SARASOTA, Fla. — Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino's daughter, who is a police officer in Baltimore County, was shot in the line of duty on Thursday.
According to the Sarasota Police Department, the officer, identified as Officer T. Hays, was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. She was treated for serious injuries and is now in stable condition.
On Friday, investigators with the Baltimore County Police Department said it appears Hays was hit by friendly fire.
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Baltimore police say Hays was responding to a home after 76-year-old Robert Uhl Johnson called 911 saying someone was waiving a gun at him inside his home.
Hays was with three other responding officers. They got to the home and Johnson said he made the calls and no one else was inside with him.
Police say Johnson picked up a handgun, pointed it at them and said, “I’m sorry I have to do this.” All four of the officers fired their weapons and Johnson was killed.
Now, police say detectives determined the suspect's gun was not loaded. Hays was shot in her upper body, but it remains unclear how it happened.
Detectives in Baltimore say Johnson left his will and last requests for burial out for officers to find.
Chief DiPino is in Maryland to be with her daughter, according to Sarasota Police.
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