Washington County Sheriff's Office in MD is investigating stabbings

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified the stabbing suspect and two officers who used a stun gun or firearm to apprehend the armed suspect

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

WILLIAMSPORT, MD. — Two Washington County Sheriff’s deputies were placed on administrative leave Thursday after one used a stun gun and the other shot a knife-wielding suspect advancing on them, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The Williamsport man to whom deputies deployed their weapons is suspected of stabbing two people in Williamsport, according to updated information from the sheriff’s office.

The suspect was identified as Ezekiel Naashon Keyes, 20, of Williamsport, according to an update from the sheriff’s office Friday afternoon. An active arrest warrant was issued for Keyes on charges including attempted second-degree murder, two counts each of first-degree assault and reckless endangerment, and four counts of second-degree assault. An arrest warrant had not been served on Keyes as of early Friday afternoon.

Keyes was in serious but stable condition at an unspecified medical center for security reasons, according to an email from Sgt. Carly Hose, sheriff’s office spokeswoman.

Keyes allegedly told the officers that they would have to kill him, as he charged towards the officers, who instructed him to stop and drop the knife in his hand.

Keyes was taken to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown and later transferred to another medical center for continued medical treatment.

Both stabbing victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released at Meritus Medical Center, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office had not released the identities of the victims as of early Friday afternoon.

Placing the two deputies on paid administrative leave was in accordance with sheriff’s office policy.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the criminal investigation, while the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is handling the administrative investigation, according to Hose.

Deputies were not injured, Hose said in an email.

The deputies were identified by the sheriff’s office Friday afternoon as 28-year-old Deputy Cole Smith and 30-year-old Deputy Aaron Garvin. The sheriff’s office did not specify which one used the stun gun and which one discharged his firearm. Both deputies were assigned to the patrol unit.

Smith has been with the sheriff’s office since April 2019. Garvin joined the sheriff’s office in February 2023.

Deputies respond to reported stabbings on WIlliamsport

Deputies were dispatched to the scene of the stabbing at East Potomac and North Conococheague streets in Williamsport around 2:55 Thursday afternoon.

This is the central intersection of downtown Williamsport and an area with many retail businesses and restaurants.

The sheriff’s office received a report that two people had been stabbed and that the suspect was holding a large knife in an alley behind the first block of North Conococheague Street, the statement said. Witnesses said the suspect was a man in his early 20s, wearing a black hoodie and mask.

Arriving deputies saw a man matching that description standing against a wall in the alley and attacking them with a knife in his hand.

The statement states that despite orders to stop and drop the knife, the man continued to accuse deputies, saying they would have to kill him.

“A deputy used his stun gun, but the suspect continued to advance with the knife,” the statement reads. “The second deputy then discharged his firearm and attacked the suspect.”

Keyes dropped the knife and deputies secured and assisted him.

Hose said the deployment of the stun gun did not stop Keyes’ advance. The reason for this is part of the investigation.

Williamsport stabbing victims tell deputies how they were attacked

Deputies from the sheriff’s office at Meritus Medical Center spoke with the two men who were stabbed. Both victims were treated and released from the hospital, Hose said.

The first victim told deputies he worked in a building when he noticed the suspect sitting next to him on the porch, the statement said. The man said he was continuing to work outside the building when he was attacked from behind. The suspect walked away after stopping the attack.

The second victim told deputies that he was driving through town and approaching the downtown intersection when he saw the first victim covered in blood in the middle of the road. He stopped to help the man he didn’t know.

The statement states that while the second victim was walking towards the area where the suspect was allegedly located, he turned a corner into an alley and saw the suspect standing in the alley holding something in both hands.

The second victim told deputies that the suspect charged the man and stabbed him in the stomach with a knife that had a curved blade, according to the release. That victim later withdrew.

Hose said there were witnesses to the attacks and what happened afterwards.

With the ongoing investigation, the areas from East Potomac Street at North Conococheague Street and West Potomac Street to Vermont Street around Town Square were closed until 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Hose said.