James Lamar Norris, 25

Salisbury, Maryland
February 05, 2014

Agencies: Salisbury Police Department - Maryland

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: over 5 years ago

Overview

Salisbury Police Officer Milton Rodriguez walked toward the burgundy Chevrolet Impala that a trooper had pulled over on southbound Route 13 near the intersection with Philadelphia Avenue.

Rodriguez knew the person who he expected to be in the car –– James Lamar Norris –– had told a confidential informant that "he was going to shoot it out with the cops." He knew Norris, a 25-year-old man from Wilmington, was wanted in Delaware.

The stop, shortly before 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3, certainly had the potential to be a dangerous situation. But Rodriguez is a member of the Maryland State Apprehension Team, and members of that unit can find themselves in dangerous situations: They take violent criminals into custody.

According to a Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office made public Tuesday, Norris told Rodriguez some variation of "Kill me or I'm killing you," and that he would not comply with commands not to move and to put his hands up.

Rodriguez tried to hold Norris' wrists down, but Norris with his right hand was rotating a gun that was in his pocket, the report found.

Norris and Rodriguez each fired a round, and Norris was killed.