A 26-year-old man was already being restrained by someone in the Royal Farms on Washington Boulevard when he was shot early Saturday by a security guard who pulled her gun on him moments earlier, police said in charging documents released Tuesday afternoon.

Kanisha Spence, a security guard employed by Catonsville-based Maximum Protective Security Services, had asked Marquise Powell to leave the store shortly after he arrived with an unknown female around 3 a.m., according to the charging documents filed with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. Spence’s directive caused Powell to become “frustrated and belligerent,” detectives said. He advanced toward Spence, who pulled a 9mm Glock handgun, according to the charging documents.

“Mr. Powell was observed leaving the store only to return moments later where he still appeared to be belligerent by yelling and attempting to approach Ms. Spence,” the documents said.

Spence again pulled out her gun “as Mr. Powell was being restrained by an unknown female in the vestibule area of the store,” according to charging documents. “Ms. Spence advanced towards Mr. Powell, reached out with her weapon and shot Mr. Powell in the head.”

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Powell was transported to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center by medics and remains in “grave condition.”

After the shooting, Spence waived her right to an attorney and spoke to homicide detectives, saying she shot Powell because he lunged at her.

“Ms. Spence did not indicate she was fearful of Mr. Powell based on the verbal interaction but only became ‘scared’ when he lunged at her,” the charging documents said. “Other than Mr. Powell ‘lunging’ at Ms. Spence, there was no other indication that she feared for her safety at any point in time during this interaction.”

Spence is being charged with attempted second-degree murder. Maximum Protective Security Services declined to comment. Royal Farms did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.

bconarck@thebaltimorebanner.com

Ben Conarck is a criminal justice reporter for The Baltimore Banner. Previously, he covered healthcare and investigations for the Miami Herald and criminal justice for the Florida Times-Union. 

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