Salisbury PD Body Cam Footage Released from Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

SALISBURY, Md. – The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General (AG) has released the body-worn camera footage from the fatal officer-involved shooting that took place on Nov. 2, 2025.

The release of this footage is required by the Police Accountability Act of 2021. Its release was delayed so the IID could have additional time to conduct witness interviews. 

Initial Reports

According to initial reports of the incident from the AG’s Office, Salisbury Police Department (SPD) officers located an adult man, identified as 40-year-old David Evans, that they suspected to be involved in the homicide that had taken place several hours earlier. Evans was standing near a parked vehicle, with an object on the hood, in a driveway of a residence in the 700 block of Jefferson Street. Officers confronted Evans, giving him repeated commands. He reportedly refused to comply and instead reached for the object on the hood, prompting officers to open fire. SPD reportedly provided medical aid until EMS arrived on the scene and transported Evans to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

On Nov. 4, the IID released the identity of Evans, as well as the officers involved in the shooting. All officers are assigned to the Patrol Division.

• Police Officer First Class Chase Ryan, 2 years of service
• Police Officer First Class Orlando Thiess, 4 years of service
• Police Officer First Class Sean Kassouf, 7 years of service

Salisbury Police Department Issues Statement

SPD issued a statement ahead of the footage’s release, adding new details about the altercation.

On Nov. 2, Officers received information that Evans was in the area of Bryn Mawr Drive and Hammond Street. When they arrived, a canvas of the area was conducted, which included a K-9 track. Evans was subsequently located on a property of a residence within the 700 block of Jefferson Street. Evans did not live at this residence, nor did anyone he knew.

The following is SPD’s account of the shooting:

“When officers made contact, they gave Mr. Evans commands to show them his hands. Officers soon observed a handgun within arms’ reach on the hood of
the pickup truck behind which Mr. Evans was standing. It was also quickly learned that the property owner was inside the pickup truck. She ultimately exited the vehicle and was escorted to safety by an officer. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Evans took hold of the handgun and began to raise and point it at officers. Fearing for their lives, two officers fired their department-issued handguns and one officer fired his department-authorized rifle. Once officers believed Mr. Evans was no longer a threat, they immediately began to render aid and requested EMS. Mr. Evans was transported to Tidal Health Peninsula regional, where he was later pronounced deceased.”

The department says they have fully cooperated with the IID and their investigation, and that SPD remains committed to transparency and community safety. The officers who discharged their weapons have been on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

“The situation our personnel faced that night is every police officer’s worst fear. Salisbury Police Officers undergo extensive firearms training with the hope that they will never be required to use lethal force in the line of duty. On that tragic evening, Mr. Evans made a choice that required our officers to act to protect the community, putting themselves in harm’s way to ensure no one else was injured or worse,” the statement concluded. “Regardless of the circumstances, this incident is a tragedy for Mr. Evans, his family and friends, our personnel, and the entire community. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of community support during this difficult time.”

Body Camera Footage POV #1

The first point-of-view (POV) of the released body-camera footage comes from a witness officer at the scene. In this footage, the witness officer is portrayed conducting the K9 sweep of the neighborhood.

Several minutes later, the witness officer, in addition to other responding officers, see movement and locate Evans standing in the driveway of a residence behind a red pickup truck. Officers immediately draw their weapons and begin simultaneously demanding that Evans show his hands, get on the ground, and walk towards police. Evans raises his hands in the air, but remains standing behind the front of the pickup. He alerts officers to the presence of a woman in the vehicle, and says that the object on the hood of the truck is his cellphone.

As officers continue to give orders to Evans, at this point telling him to not move, the witness officer with the K9 can be heard saying, “I got less lethal,” and can be seen holding a taser after shots are fired. Officers continue to point their weapons at Evans and give commands as the woman in the pickup truck exits from the driver’s side. She is ushered to the side by a responding officer.

Officers on the left side of the truck continue to to tell Evans to walk towards them and keep his hands in the air. The witness officer yells to Evans, saying, “You’re not listening! Walk towards me!”

Evans replied, “I am, sir!” just before reaching for the object on the hood with his right hand. Officers proceeded to open fire, and 10 rounds can be heard being discharged. The witness officer immediately calls to start emergency medical services.

Body Camera Footage POV #2

The second POV of the released body-camera footage comes from Police Officer First Class Sean Kassouf. Kassouf is located on the the right side of the pickup truck, with the hood of the vehicle separating him from Evans. As Evans tells officers of the woman in the vehicle, an officer next to Kassouf can be seen approaching the truck telling her to exit. At this time, one of the officers determines that the object on the hood of the truck is a handgun, and officers begin yelling at Evans to back away from the gun. Evans repeatedly tells officers that “it” is unloaded, and asks to call his mother.

The officer standing next to Kassouf can be heard saying “I’m gonna tase him” at least four times, while Kassouf says to Evans, “You reach for this gun, you will die.” Shortly after, Evans reaches for the object. Subsequently, Kassouf fires multiple rounds from his service weapon and the nearby officer discharges his taser.

After the rounds are fired, officers surround Evans with their weapons, demanding he show his hands as he lie on the ground. Police radios can be heard in the background saying, “The suspect is down, shot multiple times.” Portions of the audio at this point were removed to protect personal information and/or the integrity of the investigation.

A smartphone can be seen on top of the hood of the pickup truck. Officers can be heard discussing the potential location of the handgun in question, and proceed to search Evans before handcuffing him. While a handgun is not viewable on Kassouf’s body camera, officers are heard confirming its presence.

Officers are not depicted providing emergency medical services until more than four minutes after the shots were fired. Kassouf starts the compressions.

Body Camera Footage POV #3

The third POV of the released body-camera footage comes from Police Officer First Class Chase Ryan. Ryan is seen approaching the scene as officers are in the middle of confronting Evans. He assumes a spot next to Kassouf and the aforementioned officer with a taser before drawing his weapon and pointing it at Evans. Ryan continues to give commands to Evans to step back from truck, and appears to discharge his weapon after the first shot was fired.

Body Camera Footage POV #4

The fourth and final POV of the released body-camera footage comes from Police Officer First Class Orlando Thiess. Thiess is also seen approaching the scene as officers are in the middle of confronting Evans.

Thiess is on scene for less than ten seconds before discharging his weapon at Evans.

The IID continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal police-involved collision. Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576-7070 or by email at IID@oag.maryland.gov.

To view the full release of body-cam footage from this shooting, click here. Viewer discretion is advised.