In the fading light of a winter evening in Landover, Maryland, a young police officer's life was tragically cut short in a sudden and violent encounter. On February 2, 1980, Prince George's County Police Officer Antonio Martinez Kelsey, a 22-year-old man who had been with the department for just one year, was working a secondary employment assignment at a liquor store on George Palmer Highway.
It was there that he observed a man in possession of what he believed to be marijuana.
Officer Kelsey, in full uniform, followed the individual out of the store to make an arrest. A foot chase ensued, and a struggle broke out between the officer and the suspect near the intersection of George Palmer Highway and Columbia Park Road. During the altercation, the suspect managed to gain control of Officer Kelsey's service weapon and fired, striking the young officer. Antonio Martinez Kelsey succumbed to his injuries, his promising career and life brought to an abrupt and heartbreaking end.
The man responsible for Officer Kelsey's death was identified as 27-year-old Steven Baines. During his trial, Baines testified that the shooting was accidental and occurred as he and Kelsey struggled for the officer's gun. He claimed he was unaware that Kelsey was a police officer and believed he was being robbed. Prosecutors argued that Baines had waved a bag of marijuana in front of the officer before fleeing the liquor store. Ultimately, a jury convicted Steven Baines of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the death of Officer Antonio Martinez Kelsey.
