Fatal Police Involved Shooting on Lake Katrine Terrace (Photos & Video)

UPDATED Montgomery County police are investigating an officer involved shooting in the 7400 block of Lake Katrine Terrace in Gaithersburg.

It happened shortly after 8 p.m. on Jan. 29.

“There was some type of domestic dispute. The officer observed his son attacking his wife with some type of sharp instrument, observed some type of stabbing motion. In an effort to stop this act the officer discharged a handgun and shot his son,” said Captain James Daly of the Montgomery County Police Department at a news conference on Jan. 30. “As a result of this, the son was pronounced deceased at the scene. The wife was transported to a local hospital.

Daly said the officer’s wife died from her stabbing injuries at the hospital. She was not shot, Daly said.

According to Daly, the off-duty officer involved in the shooting called 911.

Police have identified the officer involved as James Stirkens, a 27-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department. He is assigned as a patrol sergeant in the Silver Spring District. He has been placed on administrative leave.

The deceased are identified by police as Denise Stirkens, age 53, and Christopher Stirkens, age 25.

The family has lived in the house for over two decades, according to Daly.

“It’s a tragic situation,” said Daly.

Lake Katrine Ter: officer involved is a Montgomery County Police officer

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) January 30, 2014

Lake Katrine Ter: one confirmed fatality, one person transported to hospital in critical condition

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) January 30, 2014

Lake Katrine Ter: one confirmed fatality, one person transported to hospital in critical condition

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) January 30, 2014

Lake Katrine Terr incident is domestic in nature. Off duty officer involved. Incident occurred just after 8pm.

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) January 30, 2014

MCP on scene of officer involved shooting 7400 blk Lake Katrine Ter. PIO on scene. Media staging area Brenish/Lake Katrine.

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) January 30, 2014

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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