The incident began about 11 p.m. with a reported domestic disturbance at 22 Pinney St.
PALMER – A 17-year-old man, shot twice by a police officer late Monday night during a 20 minute armed stand-off at Pinney Street home, is recuperating from his injuries at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
The incident began shortly 11 p.m. when a female resident of 22 Pinney St., called police and said she feared for her safety, and that of her family, because a male, known to her, was banging on her door and demanding entry, according to a release issued by Palmer police.
The female told police that the suspect had recently threatened her, that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and was armed with a handgun.
When police arrived at the home two minutes after the female’s initial call, the suspect pointed a handgun at them. The officers took cover and the stand-off ensued.
The suspect was agitated and continually pointed his handgun at police, according to the release. Meanwhile, other officers went around to the rear of the home in an effort to get the six occupants, three adults and three children, out of harm’s way.
The suspect refused repeated commands by police to drop his weapon and towards the end of the stand-off, approached a police officer who had taken cover behind a cruiser.
When the suspect, still refusing to stop and threatening to shoot, advanced to within 10 feet of the cruiser, the officer fired twice and the suspect fell to the ground, the release states.
Police then disarmed the suspect and discovered that the handgun was a carbon dioxide powered pellet gun.
Personnel from Palmer Ambulance Service treated the man at the scene and took him to Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer. He was later taken to the medical center in Worcester where he remains under police guard.
The suspect is expected to survive and criminal charges are pending. The officer who shot the suspect is on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation by Palmer police, the Hampden District Attorney’s office and state police.
Police have yet to release names of the suspect and the officer.
"The situation is tragic," said Police Chief Robert Frydryk. "But, appears to have been unavoidable given the suspect's actions and demeanor."