In the early afternoon of March 11, 2015, a traffic stop on a rural road in Elkton, Maryland, turned fatal for 37-year-old Terry Garnett Jr., a Black male resident of the area. The events that unfolded on Augustine Herman Highway would leave Garnett dead from a gunshot wound and spark a state-level investigation into the actions of the Cecil County Sheriff's deputy involved.
The incident began when Deputy First Class Joseph Costa attempted to pull over the Mercury Mountaineer that
Garnett was driving. Instead of stopping, Garnett turned onto a side road. According to police reports, he then turned his vehicle around and accelerated toward Deputy Costa. Fearing for his life, the deputy discharged his. 40-caliber Glock pistol multiple times at the approaching SUV.
Struck by a single gunshot to the head, Garnett lost control of his vehicle, which continued to roll through the backyard of a nearby home before coming to a stop after hitting a tree. Emergency medical services were called to the scene, but Terry Garnett Jr. was pronounced dead. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as a single gunshot wound, and his death was ruled a homicide.
In the immediate aftermath, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was called in to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting, a standard procedure for such incidents. Deputy Costa was placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. A search of Garnett's vehicle uncovered a significant quantity of heroin, with an estimated street value of around $3,000. It was also revealed that Garnett had three outstanding warrants related to drug offenses. No weapons were found in his vehicle. The investigation's findings were to be turned over to the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office for review to determine if the use of deadly force was justified. Online sources available do not specify the final outcome of the State's Attorney's review or whether any legal proceedings were brought against Deputy Costa.
