Armed man dies after being shot by Auburn police in officer-involved shooting

AUBURN, Mass. — An armed New Hampshire man who was shot by Auburn police officers on Wednesday has died, according to Worcester County District Attorney.

On Wednesday, a gas station parking lot became the scene of a tense standoff as police surrounded a man in a pickup truck. Police warned bystanders to take cover as they fired shots at the suspect after he refused to drop his firearm.

Video viewed by Boston 25 News shows the tense moments of an officer-involved shooting in Auburn that is now under investigation by state authorities.

'Drop the gun': Video captures officer-involved shooting in Auburn 'Drop the gun': Video captures officer-involved shooting in Auburn

The video shows two to three police officers with their weapons drawn, surrounding a red pickup truck.

"Drop the gun!" the officers yell.

Five loud gunshots were then fired.

"Shots fired!" one person shouted. The officers continued to draw their weapons.

Then, about 30 seconds later, shouting erupted. An officer fired another shot into the truck.

The officers warned bystanders to take cover and pleaded with the suspect to drop his gun.

"Get back inside! Get back inside!" the officers shouted, with their guns drawn.

The shooting occurred in broad daylight around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near a gas station on Swanson Road, as traffic traveled along the busy road. Sirens blared as emergency personnel arrived on scene.

Sky25 captured the scene shortly after the shooting. Several yellow markers noted shell casings on the pavement around the red pickup truck. The glass in the driver's side door of the truck was shattered. Two Auburn police SUVs were parked near the truck.

Auburn Police had issued a BOLO alert for the red pickup truck, which had New Hampshire license plates. A probationary officer had spotted the red truck and called it in to police, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. told reporters at the scene Wednesday afternoon.

When officers arrived, they found one man inside the truck with what appeared to be a firearm, Early said.

“There was interaction between the Auburn Police officers and the man who was in the vehicle. After that, shots were fired. He was wounded. He has been taken to a local hospital. The police officers were not injured," Early said.

Massachusetts State Police detectives and the department's Crime Scene Services unit also responded to the scene after receiving a report of an officer-involved shooting.

Investigators closed off the ramp from Route 290 to Swanson Road for several hours after the shooting.

Wednesday's shooting occurred more than two years after an Auburn police officer was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 2016.

Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis said there was no danger to the public.

"This was an isolated incident. No residents who live anywhere in the area have anything to be concerned about," Sluckis said.

The officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave based on department policy while the investigation continues.

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