The Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland is investigating stabbings

On November 9, 2024By Pranco

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect in the stabbing, as well as the two officers who fired a stun gun or firearm while apprehending an armed suspect.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

WILLIAMSPORT, Md. – Two Washington County sheriff’s deputies were placed on administrative leave Thursday after one used a stun gun and the other shot a suspect armed with a knife who kept advancing on them, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The Williamsport man on whom deputies turned their guns was suspected of stabbing two men in Williamsport, according to updated information in news releases from the sheriff’s office.

The suspect has been identified as Ezekiel Naashon Keyes, 20, of Williamsport, according to a Friday afternoon update from the sheriff’s office. An active arrest warrant has been issued for Keyes, with charges including attempted second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and reckless endangerment, and four counts of second-degree assault. Keyes had not yet received a warrant as of Friday afternoon.

Keyes was in serious but stable condition at a medical center that police could not identify for safety reasons, according to an email from Sgt. Carly Hose, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

Keyes allegedly told the officers, who ordered him to stop and drop the knife he was holding as he charged at the officers, that they would have to kill him, the release said.

Keyes was taken to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown and later transported to another medical center to continue his medical treatment.

Both stabbing victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released from Meritus Medical Center, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office had not released the victims’ identities as of Friday afternoon.

Placing the two deputies on paid administrative leave was done according to sheriff’s office policy.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the criminal investigation, while the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is handling the administrative investigation, Hose said.

The deputies were not injured, Hose said in an email.

The deputies were identified by the sheriff’s office Friday afternoon as Deputy Cole Smith, 28, and Deputy Aaron Garvin, 30. The sheriff’s office did not specify who used the stun gun and who fired his firearm. Both deputies are assigned to the patrol division.

Smith has been with the sheriff’s office since April 2019. Garvin joined the sheriff’s office in February 2023.

Deputies respond to reported stabbings in WIlliamsport

Officers were dispatched to a reported stabbing near East Potomac and North Conococheague streets in Williamsport on Thursday around 2:55 p.m.

That is the central intersection of downtown Williamsport and an area where there are several shops and restaurants.

The sheriff’s office had received a report that two people had been stabbed and that the suspect was in an alley behind the first block of North Conococheague Street holding a large knife, the release said. Witnesses described the suspect as a man in his early 20s, wearing a black hoodie and a mask.

Arriving officers saw a man matching that description get up from a wall in the alley and attack them while holding a knife.

Despite orders to stop and drop the knife, the man continued to accost the officers, saying they should kill him, the release said.

“One deputy deployed his Taser, but the suspect continued to advance with the knife,” the statement said. “Then the second deputy discharged his firearm, striking the suspect.”

Keyes dropped the knife and officers detained him and rendered aid.

Hose said the use of the stun gun did not stop the advancing Keyes. Why this is the case is part of the research.

Williamsport stabbing victims tell deputies how they were attacked

Meritus Medical Center Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with the two men who had been stabbed. Both victims were treated and released from the hospital, Hose said.

The first victim told officers he had been working on a building when he saw the suspect sitting next to him on the sidewalk, the release said. The man said he was continuing to work on the outside of the building when he was attacked from behind. After the suspect stopped the attack, he walked away.

The second victim told officers he was driving through the city and approaching the downtown intersection when he saw the first victim bleeding in the middle of the road. He stopped to help the man, whom he did not know.

The second victim was walking toward where the suspect was believed to be when he turned the corner into the alley and saw the suspect standing in the alley with something in each hand, the release said.

The suspect attacked the man and stabbed him in the stomach with a knife with a curved blade, the second victim told police, the statement said. That victim then withdrew.

Hose said there were witnesses to the attacks and the incident that followed.

With the ensuing investigation, East Potomac Street at North Conococheague Street and West Potomac Street to Vermont Street — areas surrounding the Town Square — were closed until 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Hose said.