In the autumn of 1978, a dedicated Baltimore City Police Officer, Nelson F. Bell, tragically lost his life in the line of duty. A husband and father of three, Officer Bell had served his community for four and a half years before the fateful events of a Sunday evening in October. The incident unfolded at the Trailways Bus Terminal on West Fayette Street, a place that would become the final backdrop to a dedicated officer's service.
On October 22, 1978, a call for backup sent Officer Bell
to the bus terminal where fellow officers were contending with a man armed with a compound bow. The situation quickly escalated into a shootout. In the exchange of gunfire that followed, the armed suspect was shot and killed. As the chaos subsided, Officer Bell was discovered approximately 30 feet away, having sustained a grievous gunshot wound to the head.
He was rushed to the University of Maryland Hospital for immediate medical attention. Despite the efforts of the medical team, Officer Bell succumbed to his injuries five days later. An investigation into the incident determined that the fatal shot was not fired by the suspect. Instead, it was a tragic accident; a police rifle round had ricocheted off the walls of the hallway, striking Officer Bell. He was not in the direct line of fire of either the suspect or the other officers involved in the confrontation.
