Prince George’s County police have identified the officer who fatally shot a man in Oxon Hill on Friday as Cpl. John Diggs, a 12-year veteran of the department assigned to the patrol bureau.
The department also named the man who was killed, 29-year-old Cedric Williams. He had no fixed address, police said, but residents of the Owens Road public housing complex where he was shot said he stayed there with his mother.
Support our journalism. Subscribe today. ChevronRight
Man fatally shot by Prince George’s police had two guns later identified as replica weapons
Williams was picking up food at the front desk of the building before 1 p.m. on Friday when apartment personnel identified him as someone who had been banned from the property, according to police. Diggs, who lived at the complex and performed private security duties, was in uniform when he escorted Williams outside, police said.
Story continues below advertisement
A verbal dispute escalated to a physical one, authorities said, and the altercation between the men spilled into the public street. During the encounter, police said, Williams pulled out two separate guns — a handgun and long gun — which were later identified as “realistic” replicas.
Advertisement
Diggs attempted to deploy his Taser twice, police said, but did not hit Williams. Police said Williams did not comply with orders to drop the long gun when Diggs asked, so the officer fired “multiple” shots. Williams died in the street, residents said. His family could not be reached for comment.
Diggs was taken to a hospital with injuries to his face and hands, police said.
Efforts to reach Diggs were not successful. He is now on administrative leave while the department investigates.
Police shot their dog after entering their home without a warrant. Now they want answers.
District Heights man killed in weekend shooting that injured two, including a 7-year-old boy
Prince George’s officer accused of erasing cellphone as agents executed search warrant