The fatal shot fired at an officer by a colleague during an ambush over the weekend was deliberately aimed after he was likely mistaken as a threat.
Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski told reporters Wednesday that undercover Officer Jacai Colson -- who was in plainclothes and wasn't wearing a bulletproof vest -- was killed by a bullet fired by a fellow officer in the chaos of the attack that took place at the District III police station on March 13, according to WJLA-TV.
"The shot that struck and killed Detective Colson was deliberately aimed at him by another police officer," he said. "It's another tragic dimension to this unfolding story."
Multiple sources have said that the officer, who has not given a statement yet, mistakenly thought Colson was a suspect during the shootout with Michael Ford.
Stawinski said during the press conference that the officer did not intentionally shoot another police officer, but that he "was shooting at a target he perceived to be a threat" and didn't know he was shooting at a fellow officer.
Hei said that his conclusion was drawn from multiple sources and the investigation. While he said he was not ready to officially say why the shot was fired at Colson, he emphasized there was no malice involved.
Ford was charged with second-degree murder Wednesday and faces a total of 25 counts -- including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
