From the Maryland State Police:
(ESSEX, MD) – State Police are investigating the death of a Harford County man who committed suicide yesterday afternoon while on a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in Baltimore County.
The deceased is identified as Scott Kampes, 23, of the 1800 block of Oxford Square in Bel Air, Maryland. He was operating a 1999 Saturn at the time of the incident. Emergency medical personnel from Baltimore County Fire Department transported Kampes to Franklin Square Hospital where he was pronounced dead by medical personnel. An autopsy is being conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
Shortly before 2:00 p.m. yesterday, troopers from the JFK Barrack received a call for a stolen vehicle from a relative of Kampes, who had been following him. Information indicated the vehicle was traveling towards Interstate 95.
Troopers located the vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 95 north of White Marsh Boulevard in Baltimore County. A traffic stop was conducted by a trooper from the JFK Barrack who immediately made contact with the driver, Scott Kampes.
After securing the keys from Kampes’ vehicle, the trooper returned to his patrol car to speak with the relative who had been following Kampes. The relative was parked in front of Kampes’ vehicle and the trooper’s marked patrol car. Kampes had remained in the driver’s seat of his vehicle.
Moments later, a back up trooper arrived, and after ensuring the other trooper was okay, approached the Saturn and found Kampes slumped in the driver’s seat with trauma to his head. A Ruger .22 caliber semi-auto handgun was found inside on his lap.
Emergency medical personnel were immediately requested and arrived on scene. Kampes was transported to Franklin Square Hospital where he was pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Investigators from the JFK Barrack responded and are conducting the investigation. Preliminary investigation indicated the 1999 Saturn belongs to Kampes’ grandparents. He did not have permission to use the car.
Troopers are investigating how Kampes obtained the gun. Investigators have learned Kampes had recently threatened suicide.
The investigation is ongoing.
Don’t know the young man but RIP. Had an older brother who did something similar. It is never the answer.
Hey, the kid was deeply troubled with substance abuse. Believe me it is not an easy thing to go through. Many have been in his position but for some reason or another did not take their own lives. When they made it through they never thought about doing that again. Unfortunetely, this kid would have probably recovered and moved on if he hadn’t pulled the trigger. But you just don’t understand how despondent one can be in his situation. I was in a situation very similar to his and I though the sam ekind of things. Luckily for me I didn’t do it. I wish someone had stopped him in time because that would have saved his life almost for sure. It totally sucks to have a substance abuse problem and it also totally sucks that some who have it die from it or the actions they take while in the midst of it. There are those, too, who do recover is they are willing to surrendly completely…
So sad.
It’s a shame, but I’m just glad he shot himself rather than one of the troopers.
Jimmy, wrong thing to say man.
jimmy whoever, why even say something like that. you didnt even know him or his situation so keep you’re sh*&@y comments to yourself.
RIP Scotty. he would have never hurt anyone else, and it’s unreal to think that he took his own life.
Don’t get me wrong. I am sorry he decided his best option was to take his own life, but he also decided to commit a criminal act by stealing the car. I have more sympathy for his friends and family who lost a loved one than I do for him.
I am glad he didn’t endanger the lives of the troopers or the innocent travelers on I-95 by deciding to have a shoot out with police on the side of an interstate which is exactly what would’ve happened had he decided to take a shot at one of the troopers.
Jimmy – you don’t know the story or situation. Please stop commenting about the situation. You are ignorant and I’m leaving it at that.
Rest in peace buddy you are loved and missed greatly and I am lucky to have been your friend Scott.
Jimmy don’t be glad of anything that was my best friend. Rip Scott I miss u man
Well, Greg, maybe you can be glad that you can bang his girlfriend now?
Another young life taken – so very sad! I too had a younger brother who took his life and it is devastating to all that are left behind. It’s so pitiful because they think there is no way out of the situation they are in and that’s just it period! No other way out of their pain – no matter what you try to tell them – to them there is no other way out! When they get to that point – there’s no return!! Its so painful! God Bless him and his family – I’m so sorry for his family and friends!
So Sad for him, so sad for the family. We have got to get control of this country’s mental health issues and help people with a place to turn when they are in crisis.
This Is terrible I remember sitting in his living room for cub scouts when we were kids. Last time I saw you was at Alyssa’s house about 2 years ago. Rip Scott u were an awesome person
Holy crap. I was thinking the same fucking thing. We would plat nwo v wcw on n64 at his house for cub scouts….
Scott was one of my good friends and he was a great person. It’s so sad that he was taken from us he’s going to be missed so so much. I’ll miss you Scotty 🙁 And jimmy..whoever you are….keep your stupid comments to yourself you fool you didn’t know Scott so don’t you dare speak about him. Love n miss you always and forever Scotty. Rest in peace.
He was not speaking about him! He was simply stating that he was relieved that the idiot didn’t turn the gun onto another person – if he did kill a Trooper, then would you be posting about Cub Scouts and how great a person he was?
If you were such a good friend, where the hell were you when he needed help?
Revealing the name of one who commits suicide is classless and renders your stab at journalism amateurish.
Otto, go back to watching cars grow from asphalt
Miss u scotty, I’m sorry we could not be their for u and ur family at ur time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with u.
Miss u scotty, I’m sorry we could not be their for u and ur family at ur time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with u.
Yeah, like you really would have been. Everyone always says that *after* the fact. Why weren’t you there when he needed you? And you knew…
pissant
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This was a phrase a friend of mine would use when dealing with a suicidal person. This friend to his own life. Their pain is now over but for the family and friends it is now just beginning. Choose you words carefully, they need prayers and support not hurtful thoughts.
Sorry for the spelling error, I meant to say took instead of to.
Josh…..the pissant? Shut your worthless mouth you fool. We weren’t able to be there for his family n him in their time of need because we were out of the state…not because we didn’t want to be you fiend. Looks like your pissed about yourself and taking it out on others than u don’t even know…..creep. Looks like ur the pissant you waste of space. How dare you waste this space for kind words for Scotty instead you fill it with worthless comments of ur own. Shame shame.
Once more proving the 22 caliber is effective.
I’m sorry I agree with Jimmy….clearly there was a bigger issue of either substance abuse etc because you just don’t steal a car…
And a mentally stable person doesn’t shoot themselves …. its a sad tragic event never the less.
I’m just confused as to how the trooper didn’t hear the gun shot? RIP buddy I didn’t know you but I’m sorry you felt this was your only way out.
Otto…your a loser with no life go stalk another page creep
All these “friends”. Where were you when he needed you? If you could have given him a ride, he would have never commited such a selfish act.
Scott was my big brother, and seeing people argue on this post is very irritating. Please keep your negativity to yourself as this is still incredibly painful. He never wanted to hurt anyone, he was nothing but quiet and nice to my family and all of his friends. Unfortunately, he suffered mental illnesses such as severe depression and anxiety and turned to substance abuse for an answer when nothing would take his back pain and mental pain away. He knew he had been hurting us for a long time, and felt even worse about it. The stealing of the car is a personal story that doesn’t need to publicized, as he was fresh out of a mental rehabilitation center that released him early. Heroin destroyed my brother and I really hope that no one has to experience this, I wouldn’t wish substance abuse like that on my worst enemy. No one could help him, he lied and stole and was completely transformed by such a numbing drug. I’m the one that found the needle and spoon in his bedroom. I understand it was a “selfish act” and we’re all hurting, but he isolated himself from his friends in the last few months of his life. I really dislike this website and the way it portrays stories, but if the public must know my family’s business, please understand that we did everything we could to help him and that opiate addiction will abolish your life in a matter of months.
My condolences to you and your family.
Well put Nick! I support you and your wonderful family! I too have had a family member destroyed by mental illness. Its is so hard on everyone! Stay strong and hug your mom from me!
Nick, thank you for writing this. You have a wonderful family. People who know nothing about any of this are writing in this negative manner as though they have correct judgment. They don’t. They know nothing about it. I hate that they have the opportunity here to lash out in this way. No one needs to here them spout off. It helps no one. God bless you.
I did not know him. But i feel hurt for him & his family. I have mental health issues & considered suicide as my way out. I sometimes still do.