SPENCER, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - An officer is hospitalized and a suspect is dead following a standoff in Spencer Tuesday night. The overall theme from shoppers we spoke with on Wednesday was pure shock that something like Tuesday’s incident happened in the tight knit community of Spencer.

Spencer Police responded to a call on Main Street and found a person suffering from a gunshot wound. Shortly after, they found a suspect near a shopping plaza on West Main Street. The suspect took off when officers approached, started firing at the, and then barricaded himself inside a Family Dollar store in Spencer.

Other first responders were called to the scene to assist Spencer Police. According to Millbury Police, one of their officers, who is also a member of the SWAT team, was shot multiple times while responding. The officer was taken to the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

Worcester County Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeff Travers said it was a targeted incident and there was no threat to the public.

One resident, who lives right over the hill from the shopping plaza where the suspect was barricaded, told us that, although he was surprised to hear it happened in his hometown, he said years ago, this would have been scary, but now, it feels like things like this happen everywhere, so he stays prepared. “I was like, okay, lock the doors, get the gun ready, you know, in case something happens because it was in my neighborhood. I live right up the street, you know, with a family and everything else, so it’s a little hectic yeah,” said Mark Rudik of Spencer.

Officials said the suspect was also shot in the shootout while barricaded and later died. The Worcester County District Attorney’s office is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

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