WILBRAHAM — A suspect who shot and injured a local police officer was taken into custody early Sunday morning after an hours-long standoff.
The man was found conscious but suffering from gunshot wounds in the home where he barricaded himself. He was treated at the scene and then taken to the hospital by ambulance under police guard, said David Procopio, Massachusetts State Police spokesman.
Police have not released information about the condition of the Wilbraham officer who was shot. As of 1:30 a.m. the officer, whose name has not been released, was still being treated at a local hospital, he said.
The officer was shot at about 8:40 p.m., Saturday after police “exchanged gunfire” with the suspect. The accused shooter then barricaded himself in a home on Old Carriage Drive, Procopio said in writing.
During the standoff, troopers from the State Police Crisis Negotiation Unit were able to establish an open phone line to the house but communications failed to result in the suspect coming out of the home or otherwise surrendering, Procopio said.
The State Police Special Tactical Operations Team took the man into custody shortly after midnight after using a battering ram on a Bearcat armored vehicle to break a large ground-level window of the home. Troopers then flew a drone through the broken window that sent back interior photos back to commanders, Procopio said.
“The video feed revealed the suspect inside a front breezeway with gunshot injuries,” he said.
The Tactical Team troopers then entered the home and were able to place the man in custody. They also confiscated a handgun and ammunition that was next to the suspect, Procopio said.
“Prior to the sequence of events that led to the arrest, (State Police Tactical) Team members rescued two occupants of the home who had escaped onto the roof of the house’s adjoined garage,” Procopio said.
He did not say if the suspect, whose name has not been released, lived in the home where he barricaded himself.
Police from multiple area departments including those from Ludlow, Chicopee and Hadley responded to assist Wilbraham police after the initial shooting. Massachusetts State Police also assisted with multiple units and troopers from the Springfield Barracks, he said.
Police closed off the short cul-de-sac that has about 10 houses on it and spent about three hours trying to contact and talk to the suspect, Procopio said.
Police did not release any more information about the suspect’s condition,.
