Clinton, MD – District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (DCMPD) Officer Jamal Shaw was killed in an off-duty motorcycle crash on Friday, after he attempted to avoid a collision with a vehicle that cut him off, police said.

The crash took place at approximately 3:30 p.m., as Officer Shaw, 27, was traveling westbound on Piscataway Road, WTOP reported.

The driver of a westbound vehicle traveling ahead of the officer abruptly changed lanes, and moved into Officer Shaw’s path of travel, Prince George’s County police told WRC.

As he attempted to avoid colliding with the vehicle, Officer Shaw’s motorcycle went into a slide, and he was struck by an oncoming vehicle, WTOP reported.

“Unfortunately, he got cut off, and he tried to avoid that,” Teddy Newkirk, who said he arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, told WJLA. “He got under another car, he got hit.”

The driver of the vehicle that hit the officer remained at the scene, but police have asked the public for help in locating the driver of the vehicle that moved into Officer Shaw’s lane.

Police did not release a description of the vehicle that fled the scene.

Officer Shaw was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“It’s just a shock,” Janice Malloy, a friend of the officer’s family, told WJLA. “It’s a tremendous loss to the family, to the community. His mother, parents, and siblings are devastated.”

Officer Shaw joined the department in 2015, and was approaching his three-year anniversary with the CDMPD. He was assigned to the First District at the time of his death.

Malloy said that Officer Shaw, who already earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, had plans to return to further his education even more.

“He took his job very seriously, with passion,” she told WJLA. “[He was] an energetic, fast learner.”

His uncle, Tyrone Hunt, said that Officer Shaw loved having a career that made a difference.

“He wanted to help other people,” Hunt told WUSA. “He wanted to help the young juveniles because he came up with the understanding of how to treat people.”

“I love you, Jamal,” his uncle continued. “I know you’re in good hands. We’re going to miss you. We’re going to keep you with you in our hearts, in our minds, in our soul for the rest of our lives.”

Funeral arrangements for Officer Shaw have not been announced.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jamal Shaw, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.