Teen charged in Baltimore cop's death

Dawnta Harris, 16, is charged with first degree murder in the death of Officer Amy Caprio, 29. (Photo: Baltimore County Police Department)

A Maryland teenager faces first degree murder charges for allegedly killing a Baltimore County cop this week.

Dawnta Anthony Harris, 16, appeared via video from the county jail for a bail hearing Tuesday, less than 24 hours after running over 29-year-old Officer Amy Caprio with a stolen car in Perry Hall, a suburb 15 miles northeast of Baltimore.

Caprio responded to the area just before 2 p.m. on Monday after a neighbor reported four suspects in a black Jeep Wrangler breaking into a nearby home, according to a police statement. When Caprio found the vehicle, she ordered Harris to get out. Witnesses said the teen complied, at first, but then jumped back into the jeep and accelerated, hitting Caprio as he fled the scene.

First responders transported Caprio to MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries. Investigators said a bullet hole discovered in the abandoned jeep’s windshield came from the officer’s gun as she tried to stop Harris from fleeing.

Baltimore County Police Lt. Deanna Chemelli described Caprio as a dedicated police officer “with a work ethic like no other.” She is the first woman killed in the of duty in department history and was just shy of celebrating her third wedding anniversary later this month.

“She made the ultimate sacrifice doing a job that she loved,” she said. “She will be greatly missed by our shift and will forever be our hero.”

Harris, according to local media reports, had been on the run from a juvenile detention center for more than a week after multiple convictions for stealing cars earlier this year. Law enforcement captured Harris and three other unidentified teenage suspects late Monday. Charges for the three additional suspects are still pending, police said.