MD AG won’t seek charges in Salisbury police-involved fatal shooting

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in Salisbury late last year.

Here’s how Brown’s office described the Salisbury incident in their March 18 release:

On Nov. 2, 2025, at about p.m., officers with the Salisbury Police Department were attempting to locate David Evans, a suspect in a homicide that occurred earlier that day. Officers located Evans in the driveway of a residence in the 700 block of Jefferson Street.

Evans walked over to the front of a pickup truck parked in the driveway and placed a handgun on the hood of the truck. At that time, an uninvolved individual was seated in the driver’s seat of the truck. Officers took action to remove the individual from the truck before any further escalation with Evans occurred.

Officers issued repeated commands for Evans to keep his hands raised and to move away from the truck. Evans did not comply. Instead, Evans grabbed the handgun. In response, multiple SPD officers discharged their department-issued handguns, striking Evans.

Officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical services arrived. EMS transported Evans to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. No officers were injured during the incident. A handgun was recovered at the scene near Evans.

The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division began investigating the fatal police-involved shooting on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, and concluded its investigation on March 11, 2026. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the subject officers did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the subject officers in this case.

The involved Salisbury Police Department officers, all assigned to the Patrol Division, are:

• Police Officer First Class Chase Ryan, two years of service;
• Police Officer First Class Orlando Thiess, four years of service;
• Police Officer First Class Sean Kassouf, seven years of service.

A copy of the IID’s detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be found in its declination report, online at https://oag.maryland.gov/resources-info/Documents/pdfs/IID/25-IID-018%20FINAL%20Declination%20Report%20-%2011.2.2025%20Salisbury%20Police%20Involved%20Shooting%20(EVANS).pdf.

Reporting by Keith Demko, Salisbury Daily Times / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.