Officer involved in fatal shooting of Officer Jacai Colson ID'd

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Prince George's County police have identified the officer who did not recognize his colleague during a chaotic gunfight and fatally shot him after a suspect opened fire outside a police station in Landover, Maryland. The new information was revealed at a court hearing Wednesday.

Officer Taylor Krauss fired the fatal shot that wounded and killed fellow 28-year-old Officer Jacai Colson, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said.

"I spoke directly to Taylor and his wife today. They're doing well. They've had an opportunity to prepare themselves for this information coming into the public space," explained Stawinski.

The hearing was held for Michael, Malik and Elijah Ford, who are charged in connection to the "unprovoked" shootout outside the Prince George's County police headquarters back on March 13.

Police said the incident led to the shooting death of Officer Colson.

The shot that was aimed at Officer Colson was deliberately aimed at him, police said. Officer Krauss did not realize Colson was part of the police force and Colson was not wearing his uniform at the time of the shootout.

Authorities said that Michael Ford, 22, planned and carried out an attack on officers outside the police station while his brothers, Malik, 21, and Elijah, 18, recorded the shooting on their cellphones.

"It's clear that our argument is going to be that he didn't have any intent, he didn't have any plan or was part of any conspiracy for shooting any officers or any other civilians that day," explained Benjamin Evan, Malik Ford's attorney.

A judge has found probable cause to charge the three brothers with second-degree murder for their roles in the ambush.

FOX 5 is told that Officer Krauss remains on leave and will return back to work when he is ready.