Massachusetts State Police Seek Suspects Who Shot Trooper During Hyannis Traffic Stop
HYANNIS (CBS) – Two suspects are still on the loose after shooting a Massachusetts State Police trooper during a Hyannis traffic stop late Friday night.
It happened on Camp Street around 11:30 p.m.
The 28-year-old trooper was shot in the hand. The bullet went completely through his hand and was stopped by his protective vest. The trooper's injuries are described as non-life threatening.
The suspects immediately fled the scene. The car involved was later recovered, but no arrests have been made.
The moments were caught on camera by photo journalist Robert Bastille, who was first on the scene and immediately tried to help the trooper.
"I went running up to him and I said, 'Trooper, are you okay?' And then I saw, you know, he wasn't, he didn't have any first-aid on him at all," Bastille said. "I deemed it, maybe he needs a tourniquet, right now. He felt the same way. He was shaken up."
Trooper Timothy Shields later rushed his injured colleague to Cape Cod Hospital. The injured trooper was then taken to Mass General Hospital in Boston by ambulance.
State Police said the injured trooper is assigned to the State Police-Yarmouth Barracks. Both he and Shields were members of the most recent State Police academy class.
The suspects' car was recovered on Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Hastings Meadows housing complex. Police scoured the area all night and throughout the day searching for two suspects.
"They asked if I knew anything or seen anything suspicious, and I haven't seen anything. I haven't seen anyone running or anything like that," one resident said.
Massachusetts State Police Col. Christopher Mason issued a statement about the incident, praising the injured trooper and Trooper Shields for their actions.
Last night once again reminds us of the inherent danger that is present any time a police officer walks up to a motor vehicle or a suspect, and of the commitment to public service demonstrated by Troopers and police officers who accept this risk to protect our communities from violent criminals.
What happened last night also underscores the willingness of criminals to arm themselves and commit violent acts in the blink of an eye to avoid investigation or apprehension. We are left to wonder if our Trooper, by engaging a suspect or suspects who were armed and ready to shoot, prevented some other violent crime from occurring in the community.
Neighbors say this incident brings back horrifying memories of when Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon was shot and killed while serving a warrant back in 2018.
"It's really scary now. Now why he was shot, there was no need for any police officer to be shot," another resident said. "I mean, they are doing their duty, doing their job keeping us safe. A few years back officer Officer Gannon got shot."