From the moment I came into awareness of what had occurred to Howard Sunny Sye in Essex, Maryland, I honestly felt sad and heavy. I am not from the area, but I can tell how fast news like this spreads on the Internet. Quite a few people within that area are still trying to come to terms with the fact that a person who was dearly cherished could end up dying in a police encounter.
Howard Sye was thirty-one years old and had lived in Essex, Maryland. He was known to many as Sunny. He was an excellent football player at Chesapeake High School. They say he was the kind of player one remembers either for his skills or for his greatness among the boys. Later, he also became a coach and contributed immensely to the sports community around him.
The police shooting occurred on the evening of December 3rd. A 911 call reported that a stabbing had occurred over at Holgate Drive. Police arrived on the scene and found Howard with a knife. After issuing commands, Howard was shot within a few seconds of police arrival. He was taken to a hospital where he died. It makes it all the more difficult that he was supposed to turn thirty-two on December tenth.
Inside the apartment, a woman was found, believed to be his sister. She had sustained stab injuries and is still hospitalized. One officer was injured as well. All involved officers were wearing body cameras, and the video is expected to be released in about 20 business days, as required by the Maryland Attorney General’s regulations.
Howard’s family does not believe the situation was handled properly. His brother, Tabias, acknowledged that Howard had a history of mental health issues, adding that the police were well aware of this, since he had previously called for assistance. Tabias felt the situation could have gone differently. He said Howard should have gotten help and support, not something that took his life. Upon reading this, it honestly made me stop, for families needing help should never get to that point.
Tabias stated that Howard was a dad who really loved his little daughter. He was also a mechanic who could fix almost any car and was bound by stamina. He said Howard’s challenges stemmed mainly from childhood experiences and that the family had tried to help him for a very long time.
The Independent Investigations Division has asked anyone with video or information to come forward. The officers have been placed on administrative leave while the entire incident is investigated. Several members from the community and even outsiders have queried about police response during mental health emergencies. The name Howard Sye is now on everyone’s lips, as they want to know how it had to end this way.
Howard was an icon in Maryland’s sports view. He was on the varsity team as a wide receiver number twenty-three. He helped his team win so many games. He graduated from high school in 2013. I have heard many comments about Howard being one to count on. Another thing making the situation horrid is his beautiful seven-year-old daughter, whom he has loved with all his heart.
Many friends left their memories of him on social media, sending love to the family and sharing their stories. I have seen it firsthand: communities come closer together in times of grief. This reminds me of times in my area where, suddenly, everybody grew as a family, albeit they had never regarded themselves as such, upon a friend’s passing.
A GoFundMe account has been established for Howard’s family to assist with funeral and memorial costs. The post explains that his mental health issues were never dealt with correctly, and the family wants a full and fair inquiry into how the Baltimore County Police responded that evening.
The GoFundMe campaign states that he deserved an actual kind of care, as well as proper crisis help that really focuses on the mental health issues therein. This fundraiser for Howard has been established to secure justice for Howard and to improve crisis intervention training so that another similar incident never happens to anyone again.
In planning, the family remembered the memorial service on December 19. More updates on the funeral will follow in the coming days.
The tale regarding Chief Howard Sunny Sye grows wider online as people search for updates about the shooting, try to make sense of it, and then search for answers concerning the mental health support in Maryland. It is clearly the case that his life had much to mean to many; now the family is still seeking accountability and truth from those causing their loss. You may also be interested in: Unexpected Tragedy Hits Mt. Pleasant As Teen Runner Passes Away
