Three Brothers in Custody in Ambush of Police Station Dedicated Officer Killed After Gunman Opens Fire

Updated March 16, 2016: Michael Ford has been charged with second degree murder, six counts of attempted first degree murder, nine counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and additional charges. He is still at the hospital and currently in a no bond status.

Three Prince George’s County brothers are in custody in connection with the ambush of our District III station that led to the fatal shooting of Police Officer First Class Jacai Colson on Sunday. The brothers are 21-year-old Malik Ford of the 9200 block of Allentown Road in Fort Washington and 18-year-old Elijah Ford of the 1800 block of Ryderwood Court in Landover. The third brother, the shooter, is 22-year-old Michael DeAndre Ford, also of the same address on Ryderwood Court. He remains hospitalized with what are considered non-life threatening injuries. All three suspects will be charged with second degree murder, six counts of attempted first degree murder, nine counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and additional charges.

Preliminarily, detectives with our Criminal Investigation Division believe the gunman intended to die at the hand of a police officer on Sunday. We have cell phone video which captured the gunman dictating his last will and testament. That video was recorded just minutes before his two brothers drove him to our District III station.

There he opened fire at responding officers, at our building, at a passing ambulance and these two pictured vehicles. As the investigation progresses, additional charges will be brought against the three brothers regarding the victims in the vehicles. This violence was all captured on cell phone and surveillance video which is evidence in our case.

POFC Colson, a four-year veteran assigned to our Narcotic Enforcement Division, was on his way to the police station to meet an officer. He arrived right after Michael Ford began his shooting spree. POFC Colson left his unmarked cruiser and began exchanging gunfire with the shooter. A total of four officers discharged their duty weapons while trying to stop the shooter. Two additional officers also responded, but did not fire their weapons. 

 

 The involved officers are: 

  PO Bryan Melius, Regional Investigation Division

  Cpl Jason Wells, Bureau of Patrol, District III

  POFC Taylor Krauss, Bureau of Patrol, District III

  Cpl John Wynkoop, Bureau of Patrol, District III

  PO Matthew Scott, Bureau of Patrol, District III

  POFC Jacai Colson, Narcotic Enforcement Division

An autopsy today revealed that POFC Colson was inadvertently shot by a fellow responding officer during the gun battle. 

Following the ambush, Malik and Elijah Ford fled the scene. The driver, Malik, turned himself in to police at a nearby fast food restaurant shortly after the shooting spree. Elijah was taken into custody at his home in Landover shortly after his brother.

Funeral arrangements for POFC Colson’s line of duty death will be shared with our community when finalized. He is survived by his parents, James and Sheila Colson, and a younger brother, Jurea.  He grew up in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania.