Somerset County, MD – The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of Attorney General has officially released its investigative report of the April 25, 2022, fatal officer-involved shooting in Somerset County.
On April 25, 2022, shortly before noon, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) responded to a 911 call from a convenience store in Westover, Maryland. The caller reported that a man, later identified as William Robert Brink, had pointed a handgun at him and demanded money before fleeing the area.
Shortly thereafter, approximately two miles away, SCSO Sergeant Kevin Goepfert located Mr. Brink. During that encounter, Mr. Brink and Sgt. Goepfert both fired their handguns.
Mr. Brink then fled toward a nearby field, near the intersection of US 13 and Perry Road in Somerset County, Maryland.
Additional officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police (MSP), and the Princess Anne Police Department responded to the area to assist.
When officers located Mr. Brink, he fired his handgun again, shooting himself in the chin. Mr. Brink initially fell but stood back up several seconds later. SCSO Deputy First Class Anthony Jackson and MSP Corporal Jason Dykes then discharged their firearms, and Mr. Brink was struck twice.
He was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead. No one else was injured.
The IID concluded its investigation of the Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting on August 2 and forwarded its investigative report to the Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Office on August 3. The Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Office notified the IID on August 12 of its decision not to prosecute the case.
The investigative report contains detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues. The report does not make any recommendations as to whether an officer should or should not be charged.
By law, the IID’s report must remain confidential until any related prosecution is completed or the State’s Attorney’s Office declines to prosecute. If the local State’s Attorney decides to prosecute the matter, the IID will release the report, with appropriate redactions for confidentiality, within 30 days of a final judgement of all defendants in the case.
If the local State’s Attorney declines to prosecute, the IID will release the report, with appropriate redactions for confidentiality, within 30 days of that determination.
A copy of the investigative report can be found in the following link.
A video of the incident can be found in the following link.
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