By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Baltimore County Police Officer Paul Catalfamo, critically wounded when shot in the head on June 7 while responding to a call on the Milford Mill Gwynn Falls Trail, was released from Maryland Shock Trauma on Wednesday evening after 11 days of hospitalization.
- Catalfamo left the hospital surrounded by family members and fellow officers who lined the hallways to celebrate his discharge as he continues rehabilitation.
- Shaka Kamara, 38, of Pikesville, remains jailed after waiving a bail review hearing Monday; prosecutors have charged him with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, armed robbery, and multiple weapons offenses.
- Officers initially responded to a report of a man exposing himself along the trail, and Catalfamo pursued a suspect matching the description on foot when the shooting occurred.
- The Baltimore County Police Department cited Catalfamo’s “remarkable strength, determination and resilience” throughout his recovery and asked the public to respect his privacy.
BALTIMORE, MD. — Baltimore County Police Officer Paul Catalfamo was released from Maryland Shock Trauma on Wednesday evening, 11 days after being shot in the head during a pursuit on a hiking trail, marking a significant milestone in his recovery.
Catalfamo was wounded on June 7 while responding to a complaint on the Milford Mill Gwynn Falls Trail near Milford Mill Road. Officers initially had been called to the trail after a bicyclist reported a man exposing himself. Catalfamo and other officers located a suspect matching the description and began a foot pursuit, during which Catalfamo was shot in the head.
Shaka Kamara, 38, of Pikesville, remains held without bail after waiving a bail review hearing Monday in Baltimore County District Court. According to charging documents, Kamara opened fire on Catalfamo during the foot pursuit, exchanged gunfire with a second officer, and fled farther down the trail where he robbed a hiker at gunpoint of a firearm. Investigators allege Kamara then opened fire on a third responding officer, who returned fire and struck him. A civilian was also shot during the confrontation.
In a statement Wednesday, the Baltimore County Police Department described Catalfamo as displaying “remarkable strength, determination and resilience” in his recovery. The department noted that fellow academy classmates characterized him as someone with a positive attitude and willingness to support colleagues. Family members said Catalfamo was active in the Boy Scouts as a youth and maintained the organization’s values of service and leadership throughout his law enforcement career.
Kamara faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, armed robbery, and multiple weapons offenses. The Baltimore County Police Department declined to release further details about Catalfamo’s medical treatment or rehabilitation, requesting that the public respect his privacy as recovery continues.