Lakeville police officer, off-duty Massachusetts state trooper shoot armed man in confrontation
LAKEVILLE - Two police officers shot and wounded an armed man in a confrontation in Lakeville early Friday morning, according to investigators.
Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins said one of his officers was watching traffic near the intersection of Precinct and Pickens streets around 3:45 a.m. when a man confronted him with what "appeared to be a black handgun." At a news conference Friday, Perkins later told reporters the gun may have been a "replica gun."
The officer got behind his cruiser, activated his body camera, drew his gun and ordered the man to drop his weapon, but he didn't, the chief said.
As this was going on, an off-duty Massachusetts State Trooper, who just graduated from the academy last month, was on his way home from his shift when he spotted the intense situation and stopped to help. The chief said both repeatedly ordered the man to drop his gun, but he refused.
"During the exchange, the suspect took an aggressive stance and raised the weapon. At this time, fearing for their safety, both fired, striking the suspect," Perkins said in a statement.
The officers grabbed his gun and started first aid. The man, who has not been identified, was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, "where he is receiving emergency treatment," State Police spokesman Dave Procopio said in a statement.
Perkins later told reporters the man is "expected to live."
The officers were not hurt and investigators have not released their names. Police said the suspect is known to the Lakeville Police Department, but not to that particular officer.
"Body-camera footage of the incident exists, and it will be released at some point," Perkins said.
"I believe he did a good job when I reviewed the body camera footage," the chief told reporters. "He's grateful, he's going through some stress right now. The gun that we have on the scene was being pointed at the officer, it's possibly a replica gun, it's unknown if it is capable of firing any type of projectile."
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office is now looking into what happened.
The intersection of Pickens and Precinct streets was closed off for the investigation.
"There is no danger to the public," Perkins said.
"You're here because you're sort of in the boondocks away from all the craziness," said Mary Lewis lives right down the street from the scene. "You always feel really safe here. Our Police are really friendly and they know our kids and so it's strange, very very strange."
The man now faces several charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon.
"The Lakeville officer was taken off duty and the service weapons of the officer and trooper have been taken as part of the investigation, as is standard procedure in any police-involved shooting," Perkins said.
"This young trooper was driving home, not in a cruiser, and just came across something that didn't look right and then just jumped into action to support a brother law enforcement officer," said Patrick McNamara of the troopers union.