FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts
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BALTIMORE, MD – Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the Tuesday, September 30, 2025 fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in Riverdale, Prince George’s County, Maryland.
On September 30, 2025, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Chief David Morris of the Cheverly Police Department (CPD) and a CPD officer responded to a residence in the 6600 block of Greenland Street in Riverdale, Maryland, in an effort to locate a vehicle connected to two separate assaults that had occurred earlier that day in Hyattsville and Cheverly, Maryland. Upon arrival, CPD officers located the vehicle at the residence and requested assistance from the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). While awaiting backup, officers observed a man, later identified as Tesfa Leith, who they believed to be armed, chasing another individual away from the residence. Chief Morris exited his patrol vehicle to intervene. Shortly thereafter, PGPD officers arrived on scene and, together with Chief Morris, approached the residence to confront Leith. Leith briefly entered the residence and then came back outside holding two knives. Officers issued multiple commands for Leith to drop the knives; however, he did not comply. Leith then advanced toward Chief Morris, who backed away and discharged his department-issued firearm, striking Leith. Officers recovered the two knives and immediately rendered emergency medical aid until emergency medical services arrived. Leith was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal police-involved shooting on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and concluded its investigation on Wednesday, March 3, 2026. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the subject officer did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the subject officer in this case.
A copy of the IID’s detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be found in its declination report.
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