Arthur Baldwin, a Secret Service officer who was suspended last April, was shot and killed in the District of Columbia Tuesday afternoon, and police are treating the case as a homicide. He was found unconscious by police after the shooting, which occurred around 2:50 p.m., in the 4700 block of 1st Street SW after they were flagged down by passerby, according to NBC Washington. He was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
"The Secret Service is aware of this information. We express our condolences to the family of our employee," according to a statement by the Secret Service. "Any inquiries regarding the investigation of this homicide should be directed to Washington Metropolitan Police Department."
Baldwin, who was once assigned to the White House branch, had appeared in D.C. Superior Court for a status hearing in connection to his suspension just hours before he was killed, according to FOX 5 DC.
The suspension stems from an April incident when he was arrested and charged with first degree attempted burglary and destruction of property. In that incident, police officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at Southeast D.C. They arrived to find the front door kicked with the hinges broken.
One woman was at the scene who, according to police testimony, was "crying, shaking and appeared to be in fear of her life" and told police that her ex-boyfriend wouldn't leave her alone, reported ABC News. Despite her fear, she soon became uncooperative during questioning, disclosing to police that her ex is a police officer and that she didn't want him to lose his job.
Baldwin then pulled up to the scene where he identified himself as a police officer, as well as admitted to kicking down the door. Following his admission of guilt, he was arrested and lost his security clearance and placed on administrative leave at the order of Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy.
In the meantime, police are searching for three people and a silver or grey car all of which are believed to be connected to the shooting.
