AUSTIN DAVIDSON SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE PLUS 66 YEARS FOR THE MURDER OF CORPORAL GLENN HILLIARD

Wicomico County, MD - On July 6, 2023, the Honorable S. James Sarbanes, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced Austin Davidson to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional sixty-six (66) years of incarceration for the murder of Corporal Glenn Hilliard of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office.In May of 2023, Davidson was convicted of First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, two (2) counts of Burglary, Firearm Use in a Crime of Violence, and six (6) additional gun-related charges following a six (6) day jury trial presided over by Judge Sarbanes. Sentencing had been postponed to allow for a pre-sentencing investigation to be completed. Davidson has remained in custody pending today's sentencing.During the evening hours of June 12, 2022, the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office received a call from a citizen advising that Austin Davidson was wanted and that he was in the area of Pittsville Park. Corporal Glenn Hilliard was among the Deputies dispatched to the area to locate Austin Davidson, who had four (4) open warrants for his arrest.While patrolling the area, Corporal Hilliard observed a subject matching Davidson's description walking along Gumboro Road. As Corporal Hilliard turned his patrol vehicle around, Davidson ducked into the Talbot Apartment complex and entered the stairwell of a building.As Cpl. Hilliard pulled his patrol vehicle to the end of the parking lot and in close proximity to the stairwell, Davidson exited the stairwell and began to flee around the building.Corporal Hilliard drew his agency-issued Taser and began to pursue Davidson. As Davidson fled, the superiorly fit Deputy closed the gap to a distance of less than ten (10) feet, while repeatedly warning Davidson that he would be "Tased" if he did not stop fleeing.Davidson chose not to surrender and instead drew a fully loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, activated the laser sight, turned and fired multiple rounds at Corporal Hilliard. Tragically, two of the rounds struck Corporal Hilliard who was later pronounced deceased at Tidal Health in Salisbury, Maryland.Wicomico County State's Attorney (SA) Jamie Dykes said "Our community has suffered immeasurably at the hands of Cpl. Glenn Hilliard's killer. This Defendant earned and deserves the sentence justly imposed by Judge Sarbanes. I pray that Glenn's legacy of service and kindness lives on every day in our community."SA Dykes commended the members of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland State Police, the Natural Resources Police, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office & Detention Center, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, and allied agency personnel from all over the shore who assisted in the hours, days, and months following the tragic events of June 12, 2022. She specifically commended the members of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit for their hard work and diligence in the investigation, and her co-counsel, Senior Assistant State's Attorney Patirizia Coletta, who assisted with the prosecution of the case.© Eastern Shore Undercover LLC TM/SM. All Rights Reserved.