Cop Shot Himself While Driving, Let Car Crash Into Oncoming Traffic

A Bladensburg police officer who died after a collision in Anne Arundel County had shot himself while driving, the Maryland medical examiner determined.

Officer Brian Johnson died from a gunshot wound to the upper body, and his death was a suicide, Anne Arundel County police officials said Monday, citing findings by the medical examiner's office in Baltimore.

The incident occurred about 9 a.m. Saturday on Route 100 near Catherine Avenue in Pasadena. Johnson shot himself while he was alone in his marked police vehicle, and his cruiser crossed the median and collided into a vehicle that was traveling in the opposite direction, police said.

The incident occurred about 9 a.m. Saturday on Route 100 near Catherine Avenue in Pasadena. Johnson shot himself while he was alone in his marked police vehicle, and his cruiser crossed the median and collided into a vehicle that was traveling in the opposite direction, police said.

Anne Arundel County police spokesman Justin Mulcahy said that "it's unusual" for someone to commit suicide while in a moving vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle that Johnson crashed into was treated at the scene and released. While police were investigating the incident, part of westbound Route 100 was completely closed for a few hours, and traffic on eastbound Route 100 was reduced to one lane.