Family Demands Charges Against Baltimore Officer in Fatal Shooting

Bilal Abdullah's family files civil suit after he was killed by police in June

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The family of Bilal Abdullah, a man shot and killed by Baltimore City Police, is calling for criminal charges against the officer involved in his death. Abdullah's family has filed a civil lawsuit that includes claims of wrongful death, battery, and violations of constitutional rights. The family says the same officer was also involved in another fatal police shooting last month.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and the Black community in Baltimore, where concerns about racial bias and excessive use of force by police have been longstanding issues. The family's demands for accountability and transparency in these incidents could put pressure on the department and city officials.

The details

Body camera footage shows that during a struggle with officers, Abdullah pulled a gun from his bag, fired it, dropped it, then picked it up and raised it again. While Abdullah fired 3 rounds, police fired more than 30. The family says the probable cause for the officers' approach has not been confirmed.

  • Bilal Abdullah was shot and killed on June 17.
  • The same officer was also involved in the shooting death of Dwight Hawkins last month.

The players

Bilal Abdullah

A man who was shot and killed by Baltimore City Police.

Taj Abdullah

The brother of Bilal Abdullah.

Dwight Hawkins

A man who was shot and killed by police in a separate incident last month.

Baltimore City Police

The law enforcement agency involved in the fatal shootings of Bilal Abdullah and Dwight Hawkins.

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What they’re saying

“Our biggest issue is this — we want the public to know that the probable cause and the reason for them approaching these black men has yet to be received, has yet to be confirmed. We got zero evidence to prove what they're saying is true.”

— Taj Abdullah, Brother of Bilal Abdullah (wmar2news.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the civil lawsuit to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and the Black community in Baltimore, where concerns about racial bias and excessive use of force by police have been longstanding issues. The family's demands for accountability and transparency could put pressure on the department and city officials to address these concerns.