SILVER SPRING, MD — Authorities said Tuesday night that the Montgomery County Police officer who died a day earlier was killed by a self-inflicted wound. Officer Thomas J. Bomba, 38, was found by other officers in a downtown Silver Spring parking garage Monday morning suffering from a gunshot wound.
Bomba, 38, was rushed to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he died from his injuries, acting police Chief Marcus Jones said. The 13-year veteran of the police force is survived by a wife and two children.
“This situation shines the light on how stressful law enforcement can be, and we must find ways to better support the men and women who have pledged to protect us,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich in a statement Tuesday night. “While we all experience stress in our lives, it is difficult to imagine what law enforcement officers are going through on a daily basis. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to Officer Bomba’s family, his friends, the Montgomery County Police Department, and our entire public safety workforce.”
The shooting happened shortly before 9 a.m. atop a parking garage at the intersection of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street. Bomba was on routine patrol when he reported that he came across “disorderly suspects” and radioed for help, Jones said. Another officer responded to the call and found Bomba shot.
Police didn’t issue a description of possible shooting suspects and later said there was no threat to the public.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia has ruled Bomba’s death as the result of a self-inflicted injury. Officials have not said if that injury was the gunshot wound Bomba apparently suffered.
He was wearing his body-worn camera, but it had not been activated, police said.
Memorial service details have not yet been released.
Police radio transmissions obtained by WJLA show Bomba told dispatchers he was heading into the Town Square Garage to investigate a disturbance report.
“Yeah, I got flagged down. I guess there’s a bunch of kids jumping around on the edge of the, atop the parking garage. Ellsworth and Fenton,” Bomba told dispatchers at 8:48 a.m. Monday, WJLA reports.
Five minutes later, backup units arrived and found the injured officer.
“Fire, rescue, advanced life support! Officer down! Shot! Shot!” an officer said. “We need someone up on the top of the garage ASAP!”
Jones said Bomba, “was a very dedicated officer who worked in downtown Silver Spring.”
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Initial Reaction To Officer’s Death
Multiple lawmakers, including Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Nancy Navarro and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen extended their condolences to Bomba’s family and the police department.
“Our hearts are hurting today. Officer Bomba is a hero. The Council offers its deep condolences to the family of Officer Bomba, who has served the Montgomery County community for more than 13 years,” Navarro said in a statement on behalf of the county council. “There is no incident more traumatic to a law enforcement officer than the serious injury or death that may occur in the line of duty. We ask that you please keep Officer Bomba and his family in your thoughts and prayers and that you give them the privacy they deserve.”
Van Hollen said: “We all owe a debt to him and the Maryland police officers who put their lives at risk every day to keep our communities safe.”
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There is still a heavy police presence in the downtown Silver Spring area. But Jones said he does not believe “there is a threat to public safety.”
Jones is asking anyone who knows anything about the shooting — or spoke to Bomba beforehand — to call police at 301-279-8000.