Jury Acquits Maryland Police Officer for Fatally Shooting Handcuffed Man

A police officer in Maryland has been acquitted of murder and other charges by a jury after he fatally shot a handcuffed man.

Michael Owen Jr., a then-officer with the Prince George's County Police Department, was acquitted of all charges on Wednesday by a jury that deliberated for less than two hours, the Associated Press reports. Owen’s attorneys successfully argued that his killing was in self-defense.

The officer was charged with murder after he shot 43-year-old William Green to death in January 2020, according to WUSA News. Green had been arrested and placed in the back of Owen’s vehicle in handcuffs after a series of traffic crashes. 

Green allegedly attempted to grab Owen’s gun and was shot during the ensuing struggle, the AP says. Green was then shot an additional six times and died. Owen was fired and charged with second-degree murder within days of the incident, WUSA News adds.

Prosecutors claimed that Green was not a threat to Owen’s life and brought a former FBI agent to the stand to testify that he had found no evidence the alleged struggle in the police car ever occurred and, therefore, Owen’s life was never in danger, WUSA News says. Owen was also reportedly not wearing a body camera at the time of the shooting.

Owen’s defense team argued that there was evident damage within his police vehicle that indicated the fight occurred. The attorneys even brought in another Prince George's County officer to testify that Owen said Green went for his gun, the AP reports. In the end, the jury acquitted Owne of all charges.

Following the jury's verdict, the Prince George’s County Police Department said in a statement that while it was "aware" of Owen's acquittal, he would remain "suspended without pay at this time." The department added that the "internal administrative review will continue."

Owen was reportedly the first officer in his county's history to be charged with murder for a killing that occurred while he was on duty.

Months after Green's death, county officials announced a $20 million settlement had been reached with his family, according to the AP.