Editor's Note: The Stop the Violence rally in Billy Gene Jackson Park has been moved from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 10.

An off-duty Maryland state trooper working security interrupted an apparent shootout between two men, one of whom who is believed to have just shot the other in the parking lot of a Wicomico County restaurant early Sunday, police said.

The two deceased men were identified as Michael T. Ward, Jr., 27, and Jaquan M. Griffin, 21, both of Salisbury, Maryland State Police said. Both were transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.

In response to Sunday, a "Stop the Violence Rally" is scheduled to take place Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Billy Gene Jackson Park just before the start of the annual Kappa League basketball tournament.

Because many young people will already be present, Salisbury City Councilwoman April Jackson said it will be a good time to bring community members and leaders together in an effort to hopefully prevent future violence.

"I really want to know what we can do different from what we've been doing to curb the violence," she said.

A parking lot shootout

According to the preliminary investigation by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, at about 2 a.m., two Maryland state troopers were off-duty and working security at a Denny's in the 400-block of Punkin Court, Salisbury.

Police said one of the troopers noticed a large crowd outside on the east end of the parking lot. He was calling the Salisbury Police Department to report the crowd when multiple shots were fired on the lot.

Upon hearing the shots, the second trooper came out and approached the east end of the parking lot on the side nearest the restaurant, police said.

"The second trooper inside the restaurant heard those shots, came out, took up a position near the restaurant," state police spokesman Greg Shipley said. "He saw an individual firing a gun at someone else."

The preliminary investigation indicates the trooper saw a man, later identified as Ward, firing a handgun.

Police said the trooper engaged him and Ward turned in his direction, firing at the trooper as he walked toward him.

"The trooper then was in fear for his life obviously and returned fire," Shipley said.

Moments later, a man later identified as Griffin, staggered into the restaurant from the parking lot and collapsed on the floor, police said. Two friends took him in their vehicle to Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Emergency medical personnel responded and transported Ward to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, police said. Neither trooper on the parking lot was injured.

No one else on the parking lot reported being injured, police said, however, many of them left and did not wait to be interviewed by police. Shipley confirmed there were no arrests made at the scene.

Employees at the Denny's said Sunday afternoon they were open following the incident.

Questions remain

At this time, Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators believe the initial shots on the parking lot occurred when Ward was shooting at Griffin, who may have returned fire.

"Our forensic technicians, our crime scene technicians have recovered two semi-automatic handguns from the parking lot," Shipley said.

Police said a semi-automatic handgun was recovered beside Ward. A second semi-automatic handgun was found in the parking lot in the area Griffin was believed to have been.

It is unknown at this time whether Ward was fatally wounded by the trooper or Griffin, police said. It is believed Griffin was struck by rounds fired by Ward.

Shipley said investigators are following up on leads about where the two men were and what they were doing prior to the shooting, but have yet to verify the information.

Investigators are aware, he said, that a crowd had moved to the Denny's from a location nearby, but they are unsure whether Ward and Griffin had been a part of that group.

Police said the bodies of both Ward and Griffin will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsies.

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is continuing the investigation. Interviews are being conducted and security camera footage from the restaurant and a nearby hotel is being reviewed. Maryland State Police crime scene technicians are processing the scene for evidence.

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The trooper who fired his department-issued Glock .40 caliber pistol is a seven-year veteran of the Maryland State Police. He has been placed on administrative leave, which is routine whenever a trooper is involved in a shooting.

Police did not release his name Sunday morning.

The Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit is conducting an investigation into the trooper-involved shooting. This investigation is conducted whenever a trooper is involved in a deadly force shooting.

Shipley said state police do have a secondary-employment policy which requires off-duty security work be approved and adhere to specific guidelines. He confirmed that the security work both troopers were doing at Denny's had been approved.

The trooper who was involved in the shootout will likely be identified early this week, pending further investigation, Shipley said.

Homicide Unit investigators have been in contact with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office. Upon completion, the investigation by the Homicide Unit will be presented to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

In March, an off-duty trooper shot a suspect in the arm when he pointed a shotgun at police, ending a four-hour standoff in Willards, according to Maryland State Police.

The shooting was the first time a state trooper has fired a weapon during a police call in Wicomico County in three years, state police said.

The fallout

Jackson said she knew Ward and Griffin through their parents and through her grandson, as well as through her efforts to interact with the community's young people.

"I have much compassion four our youth and our young people," she said.

As a leader, a government official, a mother, a grandmother and a mentor, Jackson said she is concerned about the escalation she's seen in violence.

She's inviting both community leaders and pastors to Monday's rally and said she hopes to see parents in particular stepping up to speak out.

When Jackson learned about the shooting and who had been killed at around 9 a.m. Sunday, she said she was overwhelmed by emotion, not only because she knew those killed, but because of her love for young people and for her community.

For her, it's not about whether she knew the young men involved, it's about preventing another tragedy.

She said she's not looking to receive glory or accolades by organizing the rally, but simply to serve her city.

"Our young people are killing each other and we don't know why," she said. "We need to find out what's going on."

This report will be updated.