Investigation underway into deadly Hinsdale officer-involved shooting

Investigation underway into deadly Hinsdale officer-involved shooting
Western Mass News
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HINSDALE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Authorities have released new information in an incident in Berkshire County that resulted in one person dead and two police officers recovering after being shot.

Julia Sabourin, spokesperson for the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, said that the Dalton Command Center received a call Tuesday afternoon from the FBI’s National Threat Operation Center to report a person, who was reportedly making claims that sparked mental health concerns. The command center indicated that this person, who implied that he lived in Dalton, reportedly said, among other things, that he felt paranoid that law enforcement were listening to his phone calls and alleged that he and his family were being attacked by organized crime groups. The person also reportedly stated that, while he was not suicidal, he felt police and others were trying to harm him and this situation required an immediate response. Dalton Police were asked by the command center to perform a well-being check Tuesday, but they were unable to locate the person who made the call.

On Wednesday, authorities were told be on the lookout for the person and to conduct a well-being check if someone comes across him. Sabourin noted that, while the FBI National Threat Operation Center relayed the initial report, the person was not wanted by the FBI. Around 10 a.m. Wednesday, Hinsdale’s police chief contacted Dalton Police to indicate that the person may be living along Off South Street in Hinsdale and the chief asked Dalton Police to respond with him to the address for a well-being check because his department was short-staffed at the time.

Sabourin said that the person, who had locked himself in a bathroom in a first-floor bedroom, made a 911 call around 10:25 a.m. Wednesday and stayed on the phone for 16 minutes. It’s alleged that, while on the call, the person expressed concern that people were after him, but later said he was okay and wished to negotiate with police and not harm himself or anyone else. Authorities added that someone could be heard in the background on the call and it was later learned that it was one of the person’s juvenile family members trying to get into the room in which the person had sequestered himself.

The person reportedly became agitated later in the call and a Hinsdale police sergeant could be heard outside the bedroom door in a later portion of the call. Sabourin noted that “the sergeant had a positive rapport with the civilian and the civilian agreed to speak with the sergeant” and the 911 call ended.

The person and the Hinsdale police sergeant spoke for approximately 30 minutes, after which time, police determined that it was necessary to take the person into custody and that the door needed to be breeched in order for that to happen. Once inside the room, the sergeant quickly restrained the person, who was allegedly holding a gun, against a wall. A struggle ensued and the person began stating “Just kill me,” according to Sabourin. Police continued to try and restrain the person and were able to get him secured while positioned face-down on a bed, but he still had possession of his gun and continued to struggle.

Sabourin explained that the person fired his gun and shot the sergeant in the hand. The bullet reportedly went through the sergeant’s hand and into the chief’s chest. The bullet became lodged in the chief’s bulletproof vest. The struggle then reportedly continued and a taser was deployed twice. While he was briefly subdued, the person continued to struggle again and allegedly continued to “express the wish that he be killed,” Sabourin noted. At that time, a Hinsdale police officer, who also responded to the location, fired his gun, which hit the sergeant in the elbow in what the D.A.’s office described as ‘friendly fire.’ The same officer fired his gun again and struck the person in the head.

First aid was rendered to the person and the injured officers and all were taken to Berkshire Medical Center. The person died from his injuries late Wednesday afternoon, while the Hinsdale police chief was checked out at the hospital and released the same day and the Hinsdale police sergeant was transferred to Albany Medical Center, where he remains with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries.

The identity of the person involved in the incident is expected to be released Friday. Sabourin explained that the person’s family respectfully requested extra time to contact loved ones before his name was made public.

Sabourin stressed that the investigation is still in the preliminary stages and is ongoing and ballistic evidence was sent to Mass. State Police for examination. As of Thursday afternoon, all officers involved had been provided leave. She noted that the town of Hinsdale has instated an acting chief and the Hinsdale Police Department is being supported by Dalton Police and Mass. State Police.

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