Man killed in officer-involved shooting

TANEYTOWN, Md - A Carroll County man is dead after being shot by a police officer on Christmas night.

Police say around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday they received a call about a man acting disorderly at a home on Commerce Drive in Taneytown.  The caller claimed the man was using a hammer to smash the windows of a truck.  

When officers arrived, they say the man, identified as Edward Becker, 26, started to walk toward them.  When they asked him to drop the hammer, they say he continued to walk in their direction.

Police say Becker got within an arm's length of an officer and raised his hammer.  The officer then fired his weapon, striking Becker in the chest.  Becker was taken to Carroll Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead.  

The officer who fired the shot has been placed on routine leave.