On a December day in 1977, Maryland State Trooper Gregg Alexander Presbury, a 27-year-old male, was on duty in Glen Burnie, MD. During a traffic stop on Route 3 near the intersection with Route 100, Trooper Presbury initiated a stop of a vehicle. Sensing something was amiss, he radioed for backup. Before assistance could arrive, the situation escalated dramatically. The driver of the vehicle, a paroled felon named David A.
Pfeiffer, opened fire on Trooper Presbury, inflicting a fatal wound.
Despite being grievously injured, Trooper Presbury managed to return fire, wounding his assailant. A passing motorist witnessed the aftermath and used the trooper's radio to report the shooting, providing a description of the suspect. This quick thinking led to the prompt apprehension of Pfeiffer. Trooper Presbury succumbed to his injuries five days later, on December 17, 1977. He had been with the Maryland State Police for 17 months and left behind a wife and child.
David A. Pfeiffer was subsequently charged with the murder of Trooper Presbury. His legal journey was a tumultuous one. He was initially convicted of first-degree murder on October 19, 1978, and sentenced to life in prison. However, this conviction was later overturned, necessitating a new trial. In the second trial, which concluded on June 25, 1980, Pfeiffer was once again found guilty of first-degree murder. This time, he was sentenced to life plus 15 years in prison, ensuring he would be held accountable for the death of Trooper Gregg Alexander Presbury.
