Sean Suiter facts for kids

Sean Suiter (October 6, 1974 – November 16, 2017) was a Baltimore City police detective. He was found dead on November 16, 2017, after being shot in the head. This happened just one day before he was set to speak to a federal grand jury about some police officers who were involved in a scandal. This group was known as the Gun Trace Task Force.

Sean Suiter's Police Career

The funeral for Sean Suiter. Governor Larry Hogan and Mayor Catherine Pugh attended.

Sean Suiter was 43 years old and had worked for the Baltimore Police Department for 18 years. His co-workers often said he was an honest and well-liked police officer. A neighbor described him as "pleasant" and always having a "smile on his face."

Suiter was given a special funeral, and people praised his work as an officer. The police commissioner at the time, Kevin Davis, said Suiter was not a target of the federal investigation into the Gun Trace Task Force. However, earlier in his career, Suiter had worked with some of the officers who later faced charges in the scandal.

Connections to the Gun Trace Task Force

Some of the officers from the Gun Trace Task Force, like Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, Detective Maurice Ward, and Detective Momodu Gondo, later admitted to their crimes. One of these former detectives, Momodu Gondo, even claimed that Suiter was involved in some wrongdoings with them.

The Unsolved Death of Sean Suiter

Sean Suiter was investigating a case involving three deaths when he was shot. This happened in Baltimore, Maryland. He was shot at close range with his own police weapon, which was found under his body.

His death remains a mystery, even though there was a large reward offered for information. The medical examiner, who checks the cause of death, officially ruled it a homicide, meaning someone else caused his death.

Different Ideas About What Happened

City officials have had different opinions about Suiter's death. The police commissioner, Kevin Davis, believed Suiter was murdered. He asked the FBI to take over the investigation. However, the FBI said they didn't find any direct link between Suiter's death and the police corruption investigation.

In 2020, Baltimore City decided to provide financial support to Suiter's wife, Nicole Suiter.

Suiter's Death in Popular Culture

The story of Suiter's death was brought to public attention again by the HBO show We Own This City. This show tells the story of the Gun Trace Task Force scandal. The show suggested that Suiter might have taken his own life because he was worried about what his grand jury testimony might reveal.

One of the show's creators, David Simon, later explained why they chose to show Suiter's death in this way.

Harlem Park Neighborhood Lockdown

After Sean Suiter was found shot, the police closed off the Harlem Park neighborhood for six days. This area included about 100 homes, a church, and two stores. It was described as a very strict lockdown, almost like a military rule.

Police officers stood around the edges of the area. They stopped people and asked for identification, preventing residents from entering their own homes without showing ID. Later, people from the community sued the city. They said the lockdown violated their basic rights. The Baltimore Police Department paid money to settle the lawsuit and issued a formal apology.

Sean Suiter in Media

Sean Suiter's story has been featured in several media works:

• We Own This City (HBO): Suiter was played by actor Jamie Hector.
• The Slow Hustle (HBO): This is a documentary film directed by Sonja Sohn.
• We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption: This is a book written by Justin Fenton.