A Baltimore City elementary school teacher accused of attempted murder in the shooting of a Baltimore County police officer last week was experiencing a mental health crisis and was suicidal, his attorney said during a hearing Friday.

Andrew Robert Britt, 27, of Windsor Hills, was ordered held without bail by Baltimore County District Judge Krystin J. Richardson.

Britt, who is on leave as a teacher at Liberty Elementary School, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two firearms violations and assault in the March 13 shooting of a Baltimore County Police officer identified as J. Riddick. It is unclear when Britt’s school leave began, or who initiated it.

Britt made his first court appearance Friday after being released from Maryland Shock Trauma Center after being shot in the leg by police officers during the confrontation.

Britt’s attorney, Tony Garcia, told the court that his client expressed remorse for the incident and that he had no prior interaction with Riddick or two other police officers involved in the exchange of gunfire in the Wilkens Precinct parking lot. He also was not on any type of drugs or medications during the incident, Garcia said, and he had left “goodbye notes” to his family and friends.

“What I can say is this is an effort to commit suicide,” Garcia said in an interview outside Baltimore County District Court. “This was a deliberate attempt to end his life. What I believe is something snapped in his mind.”

According to police, Britt spoke to one officer outside the Wilkens police precinct, then produced a handgun and fired. The officer ducked behind a car and returned fire, with another officer and Riddick drawing their weapons. Britt is alleged to have shot Riddick, before collapsing himself.

Police found Riddick suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The officers located Britt suffering from gunshot wounds to his legs. A .32 revolver with three spent cartridge casings and three live rounds of ammunition were found near Britt, who was later listed in critical but stable condition.

Riddick was released Sunday afternoon from Shock Trauma after undergoing surgery, according to the police department’s chief, Robert McCullough. A Baltimore County Police Department spokesman said investigators are not considering whether Officer Riddick could have been shot by friendly fire.

According to court records, Britt has a prior misdemeanor conviction for possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle in Dorchester County in 2021 without a permit. He was sentenced to three years in jail in that case, with all but 30 days of the time suspended. The arrest in that case began with a traffic stop for having a dark window tint on his windshield.

Britt was hired by the Baltimore City Public School System a year later. City schools defended its decision to hire Britt, despite the gun possession conviction, which is not an employment disqualifier under state statute and school system administrative rules.

“Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) is committed to fair hiring practices that provide opportunities for qualified individuals while ensuring a safe and productive work environment,” the school system said in a statement to The Sun earlier this week. “After reviewing Mr. Britt’s background check, we determined that it did not warrant disqualification from employment. We believe in assessing individuals based on their qualifications, experience, and ability to contribute positively to our team.”

Democratic Sen. Antonio Hayes, who represents Baltimore City, said he was shocked to learn a school teacher was accused in the officer’s shooting.

“But at the same time,” he added, “I’m not sure the history that he had would have elevated to the point where he shouldn’t have been hired.”

Hayes said that if someone has a criminal history involving sexual assault or abusing a child, “that should be automatic disqualification.” But a non-violent misdemeanor “should not count against someone.”

However, Democratic Del. Sandy Rosenberg of Baltimore City said it does concern him that a person with Britt’s record would be allowed to work in city schools.

“Someone with a conviction for an offense of this nature should not be in a classroom,” Rosenberg said.

Britt attended Dunbar High School and graduated from Salisbury University, where he played football, with a degree in exercise science in 2022, shortly before being hired at Liberty Elementary. He was also a mentor at an after-school boxing program that sought to help keep kids in school.

During Friday’s hearing, Garcia asked for a mental health evaluation for Britt, but Judge Richardson said that could come at a later time. Garcia also asked for electronic home monitoring, but that was denied.

“These are very serious allegations, and he could be considered a threat to public safety,” Richardson said during the hearing.

Garcia said that he was “disappointed” but that he understands the judge’s decision.

Britt appeared at the hearing by video.

“What we don’t understand is what caused our client to snap that day,” Garcia said. “What we don’t understand is the guy who is an elementary school teacher, volunteering at the school, who has everything going for him, and doing all the right things to suddenly snap like this on this particular day.

“This has nothing to do with an officer. That particular officer, our condolences expressed to him and his family for the fear he caused and the injuries that took place,” Garcia said. “Up front, we know this is a mental health situation that got out of control and we are going to get him some sort of evaluation and treatment as soon as possible.”

Brooke Conrad and Luke Parker contributed to this article.

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