“The trooper ordered him to drop the knife before he fired again,” Jones told reporters.
The airsoft gun that the teenager wielded is commonly used to shoot BBs and is “a close representation of an actual handgun,” Jones said.
Boyle said her family would release a statement about the shooting through an attorney “because we definitely would like our side of the story [told[ and for everyone to know what an awesome young man my son is.”
In that statement, released later Wednesday, the family said Ham was an eighth grader at Leonardtown High School and loved history, conservative politics, cooking and the Baltimore Orioles. He dreamed of studying law and representing Maryland as an elected official.
Updated: 5:24 PM EDT Apr 14, 2021 The family of a 16-year-old boy fatally shot Tuesday by a Maryland state trooper released a statement on Wednesday.Maryland State Police said they received 911 calls for a person acting suspiciously who might be armed. Police said a trooper responded and confronted Peyton Ham, 16, of Leonardtown, in a driveway.According to police, Ham pointed what appeared to be a gun at the trooper, and the trooper fired his weapon, striking Ham. Police said Ham then pulled out a knife and tried to get up, and that s when the trooper fired another shot, striking Ham.Ham was taken a hospital, where he died, police said.Police said they later determined that Ham was holding an airsoft gun, which they say is a close representation of an actual handgun. The replica gun and knife were recovered at the scene, police said.Ham s family released a statement Wednesday afternoon through their attorney, saying: Peyton Alexander Ham is an incredibly smart, gifted s
Family of teen shot to death by Maryland State Trooper âheartbrokenâ
By FOX 5 Digital Team
Published article
LEONARDTOWN, Md. - The family of a Leonardtown teenager who was shot and killed by a Maryland State Trooper provided FOX 5 with a statement on Wednesday, saying they’re heartbroken in the wake of his death.
Teen shot to death by Maryland State Trooper in Leonardtown
An investigation is underway after a Maryland State Trooper shot a 16-year-old to death in Leonardtown on Tuesday.
A witness reportedly told Maryland State Police that Peyton Ham, 16, had trained what appeared to be a gun on the trooper when he was shot. Investigators later determined that he was holding an airsoft gun.
“It’s a horrific situation,” Boyle said.
A witness saw Ham in the driveway of a home “in a shooting stance” and pointing the gun at the trooper, who fired at the teenager and wounded him, Jones said Tuesday during a news conference. Another witness told investigators Ham then pulled out a knife and tried to get up, according to the superintendent.
“The trooper ordered him to drop the knife before he fired again,” Jones told reporters.
The airsoft gun that the teenager wielded is commonly used to shoot BBs and is “a close representation of an actual handgun,” Jones said.
April 14, 2021
This is the official statement provided by Mr. Christopher T. Longmore, attorney for the Boyle family, for distribution on behalf of Peyton Ham’s Family, Michael & Kristee Boyle, (Birthfather Jason Ham Haight)
Peyton Alexander Ham is an incredibly smart, gifted sweet young man. Peyton is an honor student who enjoyed attending Leonardtown High School. Peyton was thrilled in his 8th grade year to be accepted into the St. Mary’s County Public Schools premier academy, The Global International Studies program, exclusively located at his home high school, Leonardtown High. Peyton is an avid history enthusiast, studying many genres to include European history, ancient monarchies, World Wars 1 & 2 and the rise and fall of the former U.S.S.R. Peyton could best be described as an “Alex P. Keaton” type personality. His love of conservative politics always taking center stage to his lively debates at the family dinner table.