In the early morning hours of October 14, 2019, a routine patrol for 38-year-old Montgomery County Police Officer Thomas J. Bomba took a tragic turn in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. A 13-year veteran of the police force, Bomba radioed for assistance at approximately 8:49 a.m., reporting that he had been flagged down by someone regarding disorderly subjects in a public parking garage at the corner of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street.
It would be the last communication he would ever make.
Responding officers arrived on the scene within minutes to find Officer Bomba on the top level of the garage, suffering from a gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were immediately attempted, and he was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. In the immediate aftermath, with limited information, the Montgomery County Department of Police launched a homicide investigation into the death of their fellow officer. The law enforcement community and the public were left grappling with the shocking loss of a dedicated officer, a husband, and a father of two.
As the Major Crimes Division delved into the investigation, initial reports noted that no weapon other than Officer Bomba's was found at the scene. It was also discovered that his body-worn camera had not been activated. The investigation, initially treated as a homicide, took a significant turn when the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia released its findings. The medical examiner ruled Officer Bomba's death a suicide, the result of a self-inflicted injury. Following this determination, the investigation shifted to encompass a thorough and exhaustive review of all evidence collected at the scene. There were no suspects or arrests in connection with the case.
