Dailey, Patrick, S/DEP

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler stressed that authorities still have a long way to go with the investigation. On Thursday, the sheriff identified the slain deputies as Senior Deputies Mark Logsdon and Patrick Dailey.


Gahler said deputies were dispatched at 11:46 a.m. Wednesday to the Panera Bread in Abingdon after receiving a call regarding a wanted person.


Investigators said that they had dealt with the suspected gunman, David Evans, 68, in the past, and witnesses said that they had seen him at the Panera Bread before Wednesday's shootings.


The investigation revealed that Dailey was first to enter the Panera Bread and approached Evans, who was sitting alone at a table in the restaurant. While speaking to Dailey, Evans, without warning, produced a handgun and shot him in the head, Gahler said.


Sophia Faulkner was sitting in the Panera Bread when she said the deputy approached Evans and sat down to speak with him. Seconds later, she said, Evans pulled out a gun.


"He just got out his gun and shot him in the head after the officer just asked him, 'How was your day?' because they were going to try and get answers out of him, and see if he was OK or if he wanted some help," Faulkner said on Wednesday. "But right after that, he just shot the guy and ran out the back door."



Harford County deputies killed in shooting identified


Updated On: Feb 11 2016 09:39:23 PM EST

ABINGDON, Md.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into what led a man to fatally shoot two deputies Wednesday in Abingdon.


Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler stressed that authorities still have a long way to go with the investigation. On Thursday, the sheriff identified the slain deputies as Senior Deputies Mark Logsdon and Patrick Dailey.

Gahler said deputies were dispatched at 11:46 a.m. Wednesday to the Panera Bread in Abingdon after receiving a call regarding a wanted person.

Investigators said that they had dealt with the suspected gunman, David Evans, 68, in the past, and witnesses said that they had seen him at the Panera Bread before Wednesday's shootings.

The investigation revealed that Dailey was first to enter the Panera Bread and approached Evans, who was sitting alone at a table in the restaurant. While speaking to Dailey, Evans, without warning, produced a handgun and shot him in the head, Gahler said.

Sophia Faulkner was sitting in the Panera Bread when she said the deputy approached Evans and sat down to speak with him. Seconds later, she said, Evans pulled out a gun.

"He just got out his gun and shot him in the head after the officer just asked him, 'How was your day?' because they were going to try and get answers out of him, and see if he was OK or if he wanted some help," Faulkner said on Wednesday. "But right after that, he just shot the guy and ran out the back door."


The Sheriff's Office said after shooting Dailey, Evans left the restaurant and ran in the direction of Parkview at Box Hill, a senior living apartment complex.

Logsdon arrived at the scene shortly after noon. He exited his vehicle, and, along with additional deputies, found Evans in the front seat of a vehicle in the parking lot in front of Parkview at Box Hill. Gahler said Logsdon made contact with Evans, who then fired multiple rounds at the deputy.

Gahler said deputies, including Logsdon, returned fire and killed Evans. The Sheriff's Office added that they recovered a loaded handgun at the scene, which they said was used by Evans to kill both deputies.

Dailey was flown to Shock Trauma while Logsdon was taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center before succumbing to their injuries.

Gahler said that the Sheriff's Office had dealings with Evans in the past as one of two warrants out for him came from Harford County. The other warrant was out of Florida for assaulting a police officer and fleeing and eluding, according to investigators.

Gahler said through the initial investigation found that Evans did not set out to shoot the deputies on Wednesday but was likely aware of the warrants that were out for him and did not want to go to jail.

"It's our belief that because he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest and what the ultimate outcome of that encounter would be, his arrest, and that is why he took the action against the police officer," Gahler said. "We don't believe he laid in wait to ambush, but certainly the officer was target to the extent that he didn't want to be apprehended and that is the course of action he wanted to take."

Two surviving deputies who fired rounds during the exchange of gunfire where Evans died have been placed on administrative leave.

Evans' estranged son, Jeremy Evans, said his mother, who was David Evans' ex-wife, was the one who called police about his whereabouts and alerted them about the warrants.

Evans had a warrant from Florida for an incident in October in which he was accused of obstructing police and resisting arrest.

Evans had an alleged history of violence.

A WBAL-TV script from 1997 shows that Harford County Sheriff's Office asked for the public's help in finding Evans after he allegedly shot and wounded his ex-wife. He was never caught.

In an interview Wednesday night, Evans' estranged son said it was his mother who went to the Sheriff's Office Wednesday morning to say she had seen Evans in the Panera Bread restaurant.

"She told them exactly what had transpired years ago. She believed there was a warrant out for him, gave them as many specifics as she could and tried to tell them, 'Hey, I think he's here to hurt me," Jeremy Evans said.

By phone, Evans' ex-wife, Elizabeth Rupp, told 11 News Thursday that she and her family had heard Evans might be back in the area and was hanging out at the restaurant. After going there Wednesday to confirm he was there, she told 11 News she went to the Sheriff's Office in person and told them of Evans' history.

"I told the Sheriff's Office a lot of information. I am upset those men died. I know they were doing their duty. I feel like they weren't prepared," Rupp said.

The men are the first Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies to be shot and killed in the line of duty since 1899.

"All of that detail is still under investigation and if indeed that is how it all played out we have to nail it down to be 100 percent sure," Gahler said.

Gahler said the gun used by Evans in the shootings was legally purchased by him in Pennsylvania in 1993.

"On behalf of the people of Harford County, this is a traumatic day for us," Harford County Executive Barry Glassman said. "But we give thanks for those two deputies that made the ultimate sacrifice for our citizens. Come together as we lift them up and protect their families as we go forward."

Investigators said are processing evidence from multiple crime scenes.

Local News

Services announced for fallen Harford County sheriff's deputies

Updated On: Feb 12 2016 11:39:33 AM EST

Harford County Sheriff's Office

ABINGDON, Md.

Funeral arrangements have been set for the two Harford County sheriff's deputies killed Wednesday in the line of duty.

Services for Harford County Sheriff's Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey are scheduled for Feb. 17.

The services for Dailey, who was fatally shot Wednesday in a Panera Bread in Abingdon, will begin 10 a.m. at Mountain Christian Church, 1824 Mountain Road in Joppa.



Visitation for Dailey will be 2 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administrator, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle VA, 22172.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office said Dailey, along with Senior Deputy Mark Logsdon, were killed by David Evans, who was fatally shot by other deputies.

Dailey worked for the Sheriff's Office for 30 years and was a life member of the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Co. He is survived by his sons, Bryan, 20, and Tyler, 17, his girlfriend and his mother.

Logsdon's funeral is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 20 at the APG Federal Credit Union Arena at Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air.

Visitation for Logsdon will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Feb. 18 and 19 at Mountain Christian Church.

Logsdon worked in the sheriff's office for 16 years and was assigned to the Community Services Division. He is survived by his wife, three children and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758515, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the Mark Logsdon Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1176, Aberdeen, MD 21001.

Also, the Harford County Deputy Sheriff's Union has established a GoFundMe page. This page is dedicated to its Benevolent Fund, a 501c3 tax exempt organization. All donations made to this fund will be distributed to the family members of the fallen deputies.



Bio & Incident Details

Age: 52

Tour: 30 years

Badge # 186

Military veteran

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Weapon: Handgun

Suspect: Shot and killed

Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey and Senior Deputy Mark Logsdon were shot and killed by a wanted subject shortly before noon.


The deputies had been dispatched to the restaurant, at 3412 Merchant Boulevard in Abingdon, after a report was received that the subject was there. Deputy Dailey located the man sitting at a table inside of the restaurant and engaged him in conversation. Without warning, the man produced a handgun and fatally shot Deputy Dailey in the head.


The man fled into the parking lot where he was located by other deputies sitting in a car. The subject opened fire on the deputies, striking Deputy Logsdon. Despite being wounded, Deputy Logsdon was able to return fire, along with other deputies, and killed the subject.


Deputy Dailey was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Harford County Sheriff's Office for 30 years. He is survived by his two children and mother.