A police standoff with a Black mother played out tragically with the death of Korryn Gaines, 23. According to police, Gaines barricaded herself and her 5-year-old son in an apartment located in the city of Randallstown, Maryland in Baltimore County. When police arrived to serve warrants on Gaines and an unidentified male resident, the encounter turned hostile. Gaines was wanted for failing to appear in court, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and numerous traffic violations, all related to an incident in March 2016.
During the encounter, an unidentified male ran from the residence with a 1-year-old child in his arms. The situation soon was tense, as Gaines was armed with a gun and also allegedly had other weapons in the apartment. The encounter lasted several hours, during which Gaines recorded a disturbing video with her 5-year-old son. She captioned the video, “My son is not a hostage. He wants to be here in his home with his mother.”
In the video, she questions the child about the police encounter:
Gaines asks: ‘What’s happening right now? Who’s outside?’
Child: “The police?”
Gaines: “What are they trying to do?”
Child: “They trying to kill us?”
At approximately 3 p.m., police attempted to reason with Gaines again and tried to enter the apartment. She aimed her gun at the officers and allegedly said, “If you don’t leave, I’m going to kill you.” Gunfire soon erupted on both sides and Gaines was killed and her son injured. The unidentified minor is expected to survive his wound. It is unclear whether he was shot by police or Gaines, at this time.
Gaines used social media to display police encounters and expressed fear and anger towards law enforcement. On her Instagram account, she posted video of a police encounter that led to her arrest and charges that were against her. During that encounter, she is heard to say, “When you put your hands on me, I promise you will have to murder me.” Known social media accounts for Gaines have all been deactivated at the request of law enforcement as the investigation continues.
