David Linthicum sentenced to consecutive life terms for shooting Baltimore County officers

David Linthicum, 26, of Cockeysville, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 30 years for the attempted murder of four Baltimore County police officers during a violent incident that began as a mental health call in February 2023. Linthicum's father had called 911 reporting his son was armed and suicidal, prompting police to respond to the home where Linthicum fired an AR-15 rifle, injuring Officer Barry Jordan. Linthicum fled and, during a multi-day manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, ambushed Detective Jonathan Chih, shooting him multiple times and stealing his unmarked police vehicle before being apprehended in Harford County. The trial featured dramatic body camera footage and testimony highlighting the severity of the attacks and the officers' injuries, with Linthicum convicted on all counts including attempted first-degree murder and armed carjacking. Despite the defense's argument that Linthicum was unaware police were present and that the police response to his mental health crisis was flawed, the jury found him guilty after a brief deliberation, and prosecutors emphasized that the officers were simply doing their jobs. Linthicum has been held without bond since his arrest and plans to appeal the verdict have been announced by his defense team.