Deputy shoots and kills Zombie, who hit him with a wood stick

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man Saturday morning.

The man, identified as 52-year-old Kevin Costlow, of Laytonsville, struck the deputy with a large piece of wood in the area of Olney Laytonsville Road and Fieldcrest Road in Montgomery County, authorities said in a joint press conference.

The incident happened around 8 a.m. Saturday. Montgomery County police received several 911 calls Saturday morning that a man in a Volkswagen sedan was driving erratically in the 6000 block of Maryland Route 108 between Riggs Road and Fieldcrest Road. Police Chief Marcus Jones said two cars were struck by the driver before the deputy arrived on the scene.

When the deputy arrived, he saw Costlow approaching two people with a large wooden stick, according to Sheriff Darren Popkin. The deputy was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene. When the deputy intervened, the deputy and Costlow began fighting and he struck the deputy with a long piece of wood around the head and neck.

The deputy attempted to deploy his Taser, according to Popkin. When he wasn't successful, the deputy shot Costlow, the sheriff said.

During the encounter, the deputy called for backup, police said. Officers and Fire and Rescue personnel that were on their way to the incident arrived and attempted life-saving measures on Costlow.

Costlow was pronounced dead at the scene, and the deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He's expected to be OK. Sheriff Popkin said he's expected to be released from the hospital Saturday.

The sheriff's deputy has not yet been identified by the sheriff's office. It's not clear yet what was causing the man to act erratically.

Montgomery County Police are handling the investigation. Sheriff Popkin said the deputy was wearing a body camera, but did not say whether it was recording at the time of the incident.

The deputy will be placed on administrative leave once he's released from the hospital while the investigation continues.