BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — The family of a man shot and killed by police in Baltimore County is speaking out, questioning whether officers used excessive force during a call for help that ended in tragedy.
According to relatives, officers were called to an apartment after reports of a domestic disturbance involving a knife. When police entered the apartment, they encountered Howard “Sye” Elliott, who was armed at the time. Officers discharged their weapons during the encounter, and Elliott later died from his injuries.
Elliott’s sister, Tiffany Elliott, told local media that her brother was not a violent person and believes police escalated the situation unnecessarily.
“He had a knife in his hand, but instead of him using that knife to attack an officer, he used his fist, and that lets you know that he was angry,” she said. “He’s not a bad person. He’s not a killer.”
Family members said officers eventually located another sister inside the apartment with a stab wound. She was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover physically, though relatives say the incident has taken a significant emotional toll on the entire family.
“My family called police to get help,” Elliott said. “If we’d known it was going to end like this, we’d have probably tried to take matters into our own hands, like driving my sister to the hospital. My sister called for help, and they failed us.”
Relatives described Elliott as a devoted father and family-oriented man, saying the violent behavior that night was completely out of character. Another sibling previously told reporters that Elliott struggled with mental health issues and questioned whether officers were adequately trained to handle the situation without deadly force.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office said in an initial statement that officers arrived on scene, gave verbal commands to a man armed with a knife, and then multiple officers discharged their service weapons. The Independent Investigations Division is now reviewing the incident, a process officials say could take several months.
The officers involved have been placed on routine administrative leave. Authorities identified them as Officer Malia Hooper, Officer Trent LaPosta, Officer First Class Nicholas Vagnier, and Officer Hunter Cortes, each with between one and two years of service.
County police said officers rendered medical aid to both the injured woman and Elliott before they were transported to a nearby hospital. One officer was also treated for an injury sustained during the incident.
Elliott’s death marks one of four fatal police shootings in Baltimore County last year. As the investigation continues, family members say they are seeking accountability and answers, while urging other families to advocate for better mental health crisis responses.
Body-worn camera footage from the incident has been released, and the attorney general’s office has indicated no further comment will be made until the investigation is complete.
