Pr. George's Official Opened Fire Unprovoked, Deliveryman Says

Keith Washington is a Prince George's County homeland security official and police officer. (Linda Davidson)

A senior Prince George's County homeland security official who last month shot two unarmed furniture deliverymen opened fire without provocation after angrily ordering the men to leave his home, the surviving mover said in a statement provided last night to law enforcement authorities.

Keith A. Washington, who is also a county police officer, was combative almost from the moment the movers arrived at his Accokeek home, said Robert White, who worked for a contractor delivering for Marlo Furniture. "As we were leaving we reached the top of the steps, and the customer said, 'I know how to get you the [expletive] out of my house' and I heard gunshots," White said in the statement.

Later, White said, he listened as he lay bleeding while Washington falsely reported that the men he shot had attacked him with a pipe. "I remember sitting there on the ground thinking to myself, I can't believe this is how it is going to be," said White, 36, who dictated the statement from his hospital bed to his attorney. His co-worker, Brandon Clark, 22, died of his wounds Feb. 2 without giving a statement.

Washington has not spoken publicly since the shooting. A source familiar with the investigation has told The Post that, in a brief report filed immediately after the incident, Washington alleged that the movers were in a part of the house where they were not supposed to be. Police have said that Washington told them he acted in self-defense.

Washington, a former driver for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), did not respond yesterday to a call seeking comment. A police union attorney, Steven E. Sunday, also did not return a call.

Police initially said they would probably charge the movers with assault but have since backed off that comment, saying they would make no determination until their investigation is complete.

White's attorney, Michael J. Winkelman, has not allowed police to interview his client, whose criminal record includes a burglary conviction, in part because of the possibility that police might try to build an assault case against White. In addition, Winkelman said he is concerned that White's providing a statement before Washington does so might allow Washington to fabricate a story that blames the movers in the shooting.

Police have declined to say whether Washington has given a complete statement in the investigation, but sources said yesterday that a subpoena compelling him to appear before a grand jury has been issued. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Winkelman said he and White decided to give State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey the signed three-page statement, which Winkelman also provided to The Post, because he worries that Washington, now on paid administrative leave, might be permitted to return to work. "We didn't feel we could wait any longer," Winkelman said.

Johnson has said Washington should not continue as deputy director of homeland security -- a job Johnson gave him two years ago -- but should return to the police department, where he is a corporal. The case has attracted wide attention in part because of a pattern of previous complaints against Washington, 45.

In the statement, White said he waited in the movers' truck Jan. 24 while Clark met Washington in his home. He said Clark, 22, returned and said, "Man, this guy is looking for a fight."

White said Clark then telephoned a supervisor. Officials have confirmed that such a call took place, and Clark's girlfriend has said the supervisor instructed the deliverymen to give Washington whatever he wanted.