Officer Who Shot Knife-Wielding Man at BJs Is 8-Year Veteran

By Andrew Metcalf

Howard County police released the name of the officer who shot a knife-wielding man at BJs in Columbia on July 10.

The officer is PFC David Sharpe, an 8-year veteran of the Howard County police force, who is assigned to southern district patrol.

Sharpe shot the suspect, Howard Carvel Smith, 33, after Smith reportedly threatened a security guard, smashed a bus window, and brandished a knife toward police officers on Wednesday afternoon at BJs Wholesale off of Snowden River Parkway, according to police.

Smith, a Columbia resident, remains in critical condition at Shock Trauma as of Friday, said police.

Police have not released any information about how many shots were fired, or where and how many times Smith was struck.

Sharpe was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting, which is standard Howard County police procedure.