*** WATCH *** MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPER SHOT IN HYANNIS… [UPDATED]
HYANNIS – As you will see and hear in the following HN Video, at about 11:40 p.m. last evening, HN was driving north on High School Road when a trooper came on the air saying he had been shot. His dispatcher asked where he was and the Trooper said “Camp Street.” I was several blocks from his location and knew right away that I would arrive on scene first because Barnstable Police units were in roll call for the midnight to eight shift… just about every BPD unit would be at or near to the station. From radio traffic, I also knew some of the other available troopers were not nearby. For example, one trooper had just signed off at a recovery of a stolen motor vehicle in Falmouth. While responding to the “trooper down” I decided that I was going to do two things: 1. Help the trooper if necessary… and 2. Document the shooting scene no matter what.
Upon approaching the scene on Camp Street I did not initially see the injured trooper. I jump out of my car and ran up to his cruiser and to my relief he was able to get out of his cruiser and was walking and talking. Seeing he was bleeding heavily, I ran back to my car to grab a tourniquet along with other other gunshot wound first aid supplies I keep in a trauma kit. While frantically digging out the first aid bag, another state trooper suddenly arrived and rushed the trooper to the CCH emergency room about three blocks away…
Watch the following HN Video to see what happens next… [THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. HN will release additional details as this story unfolds…]
WARNING: DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THE FOLLOWING VIDEO, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
[HN VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]
UPDATE – [11/21/2020, 3:35 p.m.] – The following is an official media statement from Dave Procopio of the Massachusetts State Police:
The Trooper wounded in last night’s shooting remains at Massachusetts General Hospital. The investigation into the identity of the suspect or suspects who shot him is ongoing.
The Trooper, who is 28, suffered a serious gunshot wound to his right hand. The round went through his hand and then appears to have struck his ballistic vest in his shoulder area.
Investigation indicates he was shot shortly after 11:30 PM Friday from a motor vehicle he had just stopped on Camp Street in Hyannis. The vehicle fled immediately after the shooting, and the Trooper made a radio transmission to the State Police-Yarmouth Barracks stating that he had been shot.
Within moments Trooper Timothy Shields arrived on scene, took the wounded Trooper into his cruiser, and rushed him to Cape Cod Hospital. The wounded Trooper was later transported from CCH to MGH in Boston by ambulance.
Numerous State Police and Barnstable Police units responded within moments to begin gathering information and to secure the scene for investigators.
Both the wounded Trooper and Trooper Shields graduated in May from the 85th Recruit Training Troop, the MSP’s most recent Academy class. Both are assigned to the Yarmouth Barracks. The name of the wounded Trooper is not being released at this time.
Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, issued the following statement:
“First and foremost, I commend our Trooper who suffered a serious injury in the performance of his duty, and his classmate and barracks-mate, Trooper Shields, who took quick and decisive action to get his wounded brother Trooper to the emergency room immediately. Both Troopers remained calm and composed in a highly stressful situation, and both did what they had to do without delay — behavior that speaks volumes about their character, courage, and the quality of their training at the State Police Academy. We are grateful that the outcome was not worse.
“We also offer our sincere thanks to the Barnstable Police Department for their valuable assistance and to the emergency medical staffs at Cape Cod Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital and to the EMTs who transported our Trooper to Boston.
“Last night once again reminds us of the inherent danger that is present any time a police officer walks up to a motor vehicle or a suspect, and of the commitment to public service demonstrated by Troopers and police officers who accept this risk to protect our communities from violent criminals.
“What happened last night also underscores the willingness of criminals to arm themselves and commit violent acts in the blink of an eye to avoid investigation or apprehension. We are left to wonder if our Trooper, by engaging a suspect or suspects who were armed and ready to shoot, prevented some other violent crime from occurring in the community.”
The investigation into the identity of the suspect or suspects is being led by the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands district, with assistance from other State Police and Barnstable Police units. No further details are being released at this time in order to protect the integrity of that ongoing investigation.
UPDATE – [11/21/2020, 5:30 a.m.] – The following is an official media statement from Dave Procopio of the Massachusetts State Police:
Trooper Shot in Hyannis; Injuries Not Life-Threatening; Search for Suspect or Suspects Ongoing
Shortly after 11:30 PM Friday a Massachusetts State Trooper was shot after stopping a motor vehicle on Camp Street in Barnstable.
The Trooper was transported by another Trooper to Cape Cod Hospital, and from there was transported by ambulance to a Boston hospital. His injury is non-life threatening.
The suspect vehicle fled after the shooting. A search is ongoing for the occupant or occupants of the vehicle.
The injured Trooper is assigned to the State Police-Yarmouth Barracks.
No further information is being released at this time.