Prince George's County police mark 2-year anniversary of death of Cpl. Jacai Colson

WASHINGTON - It's been two years since the death of Prince George's County police officer, 28-year-old Corporal Jacai Colson.

Prince George's County police marked the anniversary with a post on social media, commemorating Cpl. Colson's life and accomplishments.

Colson was shot and killed by friendly fire on March 13, 2016, when according to police, suspects opened fire without warning at officers outside the District 3 police station.

They say Colson, who was off-duty at the time, was mistaken for one of the attackers and was shot by a fellow officer during the gunfire. Colson was in plainclothes and had arrived in an undercover vehicle.

Fellow officers rushed Colson to the hospital, where he died from his injuries a short time later.

Three brothers-- 18-year old Elijah Ford, 21-year-old Malik Ford, and 22-year-old Michael Ford -- were indicted in May 2017 for the attack, and two of them pleaded guilty.

Police say Michael Ford, the gunman, intended to die in a gun battle with police.

Colson had been with the Prince George's County Police Department for four years. Prince George's County police say he was the 29th member of the department to die in the line of duty, and the 54th law enforcement officer to give his life to service in the county.

After graduating from Randolph Macon College in Virginia, Colson followed in his grandfather's footsteps and joined the department in 2012. He worked as an undercover narcotics investigator with the Narcotics Enforcement Division's V-500 Squad.

Brothers Elijah and Malik Ford were accused of sitting in the car and recording the attack on cellphones, which investigators say is being used as evidence in their case. They pleaded guilty to charges in October 2017.

Malik Ford pleaded guilty to several charges, including attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He faces 20 years in prison. Elijah Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and is facing 12 years in prison.

Michael Ford, the eldest brother, was indicted on 55 counts, including second-degree murder, and will be heading to trial on April 30.