School Resource Officer Fatally Shot Himself on Campus

School Resource Officer Fatally Shot Himself on Campus

The campus was placed on lockdown and students were kept away from the area, according to Peach. It is possible that students might have heard the gunshot, she said, but no students are believed to have witnessed what happened.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • November 14, 2018

A Baltimore County police officer working as a school resource officer fatally shot himself on campus Monday at Eastern Technical High School in Essex, Maryland, police said. Officer Joseph Comegna, a 21-year veteran of the police force, was pronounced dead after he was taken to the hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to police spokeswoman Jennifer Peach, school faculty heard a sound from Comenga’s basement office at 12:23 p.m. and found him alone inside with a gunshot wound. Peach said his service weapon was found with him and investigators believe he used it to shoot himself.

Footage from security surveillance cameras confirmed that Comegna entered his office alone, Peach said. He was wearing a body camera, but police do not believe it was turned on at the time.

The department first reported that the officer suffered an unknown “medical emergency.”

The campus was placed on lockdown and students were kept away from the area, according to Peach. It is possible that students might have heard the gunshot, she said, but no students are believed to have witnessed what happened.

Students were dismissed at the normal time, but all after-school and evening activities were canceled that day, Baltimore County Public Schools said. No students or other staff were injured in the incident.

Peach said the investigation was ongoing but the school was expected to open Tuesday. She could not provide any information regarding possible motives.

Interim schools Superintendent Verletta White expressed condolences to the officer’s family and the school in a statement.

“I am saddened to learn about the death of Officer Joseph Comegna, the school resource officer at Eastern Technical High,” she said. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Baltimore County Police Department, and Eastern Tech’s students and staff. We will be sure to have a traumatic loss team at the school to support students and staff Tuesday.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular