Mover Shot By Prince George's Official Dies

Hospitalized Man Too Ill To Give Details of Incident

Brandon D. Clark and a co-worker were shot by a Prince George's official while delivering furniture. (Family Photography - Twp)

A furniture deliveryman who was shot last week by a Prince George's County homeland security official died yesterday without having recovered to the point that he could describe the circumstances of the shooting, authorities and an attorney for his family said.

Brandon D. Clark, 22, of Oxon Hill succumbed to his injuries at Prince George's Hospital Center. He and a co-worker had been in critical condition there since they were shot by Keith A. Washington, who is a veteran county police officer, as they delivered a Marlo Furniture bedroom set to his home in Accokeek.

Police initially said that Washington, a former driver for County Executive Jack B. Johnson, apparently acted in self-defense and that Clark and his co-worker, Robert White, would probably be charged with assault. They have since backed off that statement, saying they would wait until detectives have completed their work before deciding whom to charge.

The movers were unarmed, authorities have said.

In a statement yesterday confirming Clark's death, Prince George's Police Chief Melvin C. High said, "This is an unfortunate turn of events that now becomes a part of the internal and criminal investigation."

The case has attracted wide attention because of a pattern of previous complaints against Washington, 45, who was appointed deputy homeland security director by Johnson in 2004.

A law enforcement source confirmed yesterday that -- as Clark's girlfriend and the attorney for the family have said -- the deliverymen contacted a supervisor on the night of the shooting. According to the girlfriend, Leelee Best, the men told the supervisor that Washington was angry over a bedrail. The family attorney, Michael J. Winkelman, said the men were instructed to give Washington whatever he wanted.

Another source familiar with the investigation said yesterday that, in a brief report filed immediately after the shooting, Washington alleged that Clark and White, 36, of the District, were in a part of the house they were not supposed to be in. Both sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Under state law, police officers have up to 10 days to give a full statement after a shooting. Washington has not responded to messages seeking comment since the incident.

Speaking to reporters yesterday morning, Winkelman said Clark's family members were grieving but were grateful "for the outpouring of public and private support" they have received. He asked for "continued thoughts and prayers" for White, who remains in critical condition.

Winkelman said that during the time he was hospitalized, Clark was unable to communicate with his family in any substantive way about the events that led to his shooting. As far as he knows, Winkelman said, Clark "never told his side of the story to anyone before he died."

Clark was a graduate of DuVal High School, where he played on the football team. Clark's family has described him as a big, gentle man, easygoing and slow to anger, standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing more than 260 pounds.

Glenn F. Ivey, state's attorney for Prince George's, has said two investigations of the shooting incident will proceed on separate tracks: One team of police detectives will investigate Washington's use of force; the other set of detectives will look into what crimes, if any, occurred during the encounter.

Ivey said yesterday that a grand jury would consider the matter once he has received the findings of the investigations, Clark's autopsy report and other documents. "We can't rush into the grand jury," he said. "It would be counterproductive to hurry the investigations."