Riverdale, Maryland — September 30, 2025: Authorities identified Tesfa Leith, age 45, as the man shot and killed by the Cheverly Police Chief during an encounter related to a stabbing investigation on Greenland Street in Riverdale.
According to officials, officers were investigating an earlier stabbing incident when they located a vehicle believed to be connected to the case. Upon approaching the suspect, later identified as Leith, police reported that he was armed with knives.
The responding officer deployed a taser, but it was reportedly ineffective. Authorities say Leith then charged toward the officer, prompting the officer to open fire, striking and killing him. No other injuries were reported.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office Independent Investigations Division is overseeing the review of the incident. Officials confirmed that the officer involved was Cheverly Police Chief David Morris, who remains on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
The case remains under a pending investigation. Local news outlets, including WJLA, WMAR, FOX 5 DC, and NBC Washington, have reported on the shooting, with Leith’s family and community members calling for accountability and transparency in the ongoing investigation.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports as of the date of publication. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys does not independently verify third-party claims and makes no representation regarding the completeness or accuracy of external reporting. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.