WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - More updates surrounding a deadly officer involved shooting in West Springfield. Chief Jay Gearing held a meeting on Friday with the latest on the investigation, and how the department may be getting a much-needed tech upgrade soon.

This shooting is still in the early stages of investigation, but Chief Gearing wanted to make sure the public knows that West Springfield Police Department are doing everything to be as transparent as possible.

New info about a shooting in West Springfield, as officers were called to a domestic disturbance on George Street around 9:51 p.m. on Wednesday night. The call involved a man and a woman, and soon after arriving, police said they had enough information to arrest a man on domestic violence charges.

Gearing revealed that one of the officers was injured because the man had a knife, “The individual became combative, resisted, and at one point it is believed produced a knife that he may have had on his person. This knife caused injury, lacerations to one of my officers, who ultimately, she had to be transported to the emergency room for treatment.”

Officers used a taser but failed to get the man into custody. In the process, the man was shot, and the officers gave him medical attention at the scene. However, after he was taken to Baystate Medical Center, he died from his injuries. Both officers involved are now on administrative leave until the District Attorney’s investigation is finished.

Gearing cites the public call for bodycams for West Springfield officers, something that he recognizes will create a more transparent connection with the public, “It’s going to give everyone a first-hand look at all calls, interactions that we are involved with on a daily basis. And there’s no more greater transparency than that to be able to replay the audio and video of the officers’ perception of these calls.”

Earlier this year, the department received a state grant of $110,000 to launch a bodycam program. Gearing told us, he’s expecting them to be up and running by January of 2027.

Gearing asks the public for patience as the Hampden County District Attorney continues their investigation.