Man Dies in Standoff With Police, FBI

Michael Terry Smith, holed up in an apartment in Prince George's County yesterday after trading gunfire with police officers and FBI agents, maintained from the start of the standoff that he had no intention of surrendering, law enforcement authorities said.

The officers had arrived at the Forestville area apartment after a series of events that began when Smith's girlfriend, who works on Capitol Hill, reported Smith's alleged involvement in a bank robbery, said William D. Chase, head of the FBI's Baltimore office.

Chase said Smith angrily told her he would force an armed confrontation with U.S. Capitol Police at the Capitol and, if he survived, would "come after her."

At some point during the standoff, which began with an attempt to execute a search warrant and lasted more than nine hours, Smith, who was armed with a handgun, took a shower. He put on a suit, Chase said. He shined his shoes.

Smith, 42, was killed about 3:40 p.m. when state police officers and FBI agents forced their way into the apartment after firing 10 canisters of tear gas into it, law enforcement officials said. Chase said shots were fired during the entry, but it was unclear whether Smith died of a self-inflicted wound or was struck by someone else's bullet. Richard Wolf, a spokesman for the FBI's Baltimore office, said Smith was struck at least twice.

The warrant accuses Smith of threatening U.S. Capitol Police officers. The robbery in which he was also a suspect occurred in Alexandria about three months ago, said Jennifer Smith Love, head of the FBI's Washington field office.

Law enforcement officers arrived at Smith's apartment, in the 4400 block of Rena Road, shortly after 6 a.m. Smith fired first, Wolf said, and retreated into the apartment as authorities returned fire. He attempted to escape from the second floor at the back of the apartment but again went back inside after firing more rounds, Wolf said.

During the standoff, Smith asked why the officers outside had not stormed the apartment, Chase said. They went into the apartment after deciding that he could not be talked out. "He stuck to that line the whole time," Chase said.