Baltimore City Police Department, Maryland
End of Watch: Sunday, January 9, 2011
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 2682
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: January 9, 2011
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer William Torbit was accidentally shot and killed by uniformed police officers after responding to a fight at a nightclub on North Paca Street at approximately 1:15 am.
Officer Torbit, who was in plainclothes, was one of the first officers to arrive to a call of a large fight at a nightclub. When he arrived, he began breaking up a fight between several females. As he broke up the fight he was attacked by a group of men.
At some point during the struggle with the males, Officer Torbit drew his service weapon. Responding officers, not realizing Officer Torbit was a police officer, shot and killed him. A second officer was shot and wounded in the foot during the melee.
Officer Torbit had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for eight years.