​Brandywine, MD – A Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) officer was fatally shot on Wednesday morning, after he responded, off duty, to assist a female neighbor with a domestic violence problem.

Prince George’s Police Chief Hank Stawinski said that Corporal Mujahid Ramzziddin gave his life to protect a member of the community.

“A neighbor came to him at his home – he was not working – needing help. He immediately responded to that plea from help,” Chief Stawinski said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “And shortly thereafter found himself in a confrontation with a man with a shotgun. Cold, callous”

“Mujahid stood his ground to defend the life of the individual who had come to him for help,” he said.

The chief said Cpl. Ramzziddin was brave officer, and Medal of Valor recipient in 2006.

“Today was not the first time he demonstrated his heroism,” Chief Stawinski said. “He led a consequential life, and he suffered a consequential death. But he saved her life by giving his own.”

“I’m extraordinarily proud of him. Not just for the way we lost him, but for the totality of his career,” he said.

Cpl. Ramzziddin, a 14-year veteran of the Prince George’s Police, was at home on his day off when a neighbor came to him with a domestic dispute at about 7:20 a.m. on Feb. 21.

Even though he wasn’t working, Cpl. Ramzziddin went over to his neighbor’s house in the 15000-block of Chadsey Lane to try and assist her.

There was an altercation, and the victim’s husband fatally shot Cpl. Ramzziddin with a shotgun. The officer died at the scene.

A witness driving past told WRC-TV that he had heard more than 10 shots.

“Officer Ramzziddin gave his life trying to save the life of another,” Maryland State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said at the press conference.

The wife called 911 and reported that her husband had shot a police officer, and gave police a description of the vehicle her husband left in.

Chief Stawinski said the Charles County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with PGPD, and when their deputies spotted the suspect in Charles County.

Police pursued the suspect back into Prince George’s County. The suspect began firing a gun at police as he fled.

Eventually, the suspect stopped his car in an intersection in Ft. Washington, and got out of his vehicle to exchange gunfire with officers, police said.

“The individual who was responsible for this was subsequently shot and killed by two officers,” Chief Stawinski said.

Neighbors said that the suspect had a bad reputation.

“He has a violent temper. He has displayed temper in the past,” a neighbor named Arlene told WJLA.

She said the police had been in the neighborhood looking for the suspect recently.

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker called Cpl. Ramzziddin “a gentleman who lived his life giving service to others.”

“He was off duty. He didn’t have to answer the door. He didn’t have to walk out that door,” Baker said at the press conference.

“But it is also a proud day for us in Prince George’s County because he’s an example of the men and women that go out there every day and put on the uniform and serve,” Baker said, and complimented the caliber of the police in his county.

“We as a community love them. We as a state love them,” Baker said.

Cpl. Ramzziddin served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was considered a family man by the officers with whom he worked.

He is survived by a wife and four children.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Prince George’s County Corporal Ramzziddin, both blood and blue. Godspeed, we will take the watch from here. Thank you for your service.

Corporal Mujahid Ramzziddin, your life mattered.