Two arrested in Md. officer's wounding

Police have arrested and charged two men in connection with Monday's shooting and wounding of an off-duty Prince George's County officer who was struck by fire from his own gun during a struggle with one of the suspects outside a Bowie-area bank, authorities said Tuesday.

Tarintini Jean-Louis, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with robbery, assaulting a law enforcement officer and other related counts in the shooting of Cpl. Edward King, a 22-year-veteran of the department, authorities said.

Police said Tarintini tried to take King’s weapon after King intervened in a robbery attempt outside the bank. As the two struggled, the gun discharged. King's leg was grazed and Taratini was hit in the hand, police said; both were expected to survive. It is unclear how many times the gun fired.

Also charged with robbery was Bernard Hasan Tyler, 20, of Mount Rainier. Police said Tyler was the driver of a vehicle that Tarantini apparently intended to flee in after he tried to rob a person who was taking money to the BB&T bank branch at Old Chapel and Laurel Bowie roads in Bowie.

After King blocked in the car, police said, a Bowie State University police officer took Tyler into custody. Tarantini ran away and King chased him down, police said.

Police said they are still searching for a third suspect who fled the area in a dark green Mazda with tinted windows. After struggling with King, Tarantini tried to get in that vehicle but was unable to hold on, police said.

The incident occurred in the wake of the slaying of a Maryland State Trooper who was shot while working security at an Applebee’s in Forestville. Police announced two arrests in that case Monday.

-- Matt Zapotosky