Officer fires his gun while fighting assailants

An off-duty Baltimore police officer fired his service weapon while struggling with two assailants who were trying to rob him last night as he left a liquor store on Reisterstown Road, police said.

The officer was leaving the store, in the 5400 block of Reisterstown Road, about 9: 30 p.m. when two men approached him and attempted to rob him, and a struggle ensued, said police spokeswoman Ragina Cooper.

The officer fired at least once, she said. One suspect was apprehended, but the other fled, she said. Police would not release the officer's identify last night.

Pub Date: 3/21/98