Suspect charged in murder of Wicomico Co. Sheriff’s Deputy

PITTSVILLE, Md. – A Delmar man is in custody after he shot and killed a deputy Sunday evening.

Preliminary investigation indicates that shortly before 8:30 p.m., Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Glenn Hilliard and another deputy responded to the Talbot Street Apartment complex, located in the 7400 block of Gumboro Road in Pittsville, to arrest a wanted individual, identified as 20-year-old Austin Jacob Allen Davidson. The deputies initially did not see anyone matching the description and left the complex. When Hilliard returned to the parking lot roughly 10 minutes later, he saw a man leaving a stairwell that matched Davidson’s description.

When Hilliard drove closer, the man reportedly ran off, and the deputy chased him around the back of the complex. Hilliard gained on him quickly, announced that he would use a stun gun and deployed it, but it was not effective, Sheriff Mike Lewis said. As Davidson approached the woods, he turned and fired multiple shots, hitting Hilliard at least once. The shooting was caught on DFC Hilliard’s body-worn camera, and the deputy did not get a chance to take his gun out of the holster.

More than 20 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies were involved in the search for Davidson, who walked out of the woods and surrendered approximately two hours later.

Davidson was wanted on four outstanding arrest warrants and was charged on Monday with first and second degree murder, first and second degree assault, reckless endangerment, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

Davidson is being held without bond.