A man was shot during a police confrontation early Friday morning in Lakeville, Massachusetts, after allegedly approaching an officer and pointing what appeared to be a gun at him, authorities said.
Lakeville police, along with other departments, were on scene investigating the incident, closing the corner of Precinct Street and Pickens Street — right near the center of town.
In an update from Massachusetts State Police, authorities said that a man was shot during a confrontation with police shortly before 4 a.m. A Lakeville officer and a state trooper were present at the incident.
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The incident started when a Lakeville officer was monitoring traffic, and a man allegedly approached the officer with what appeared to be a black handgun, according to a news release from Lakeville police. The officer went behind his car, and took out his own gun, ordering the man to drop his weapon, authorities said.
The state trooper was driving by, and off-duty, when they stopped to get involved and help the Lakeville officer.
Both the trooper and the officer continued to order the man to drop his gun, authorities said, but the man allegedly "took an aggressive stance and raised the weapon," leading both officers to shoot their guns, hitting the man.
The man was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford for emergency treatment. He is expected to live. Neither officer was hurt.
Authorities have recovered a weapon belonging to the man. He is expected to face a number of charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon.
People were asked to avoid that area. Police said there was not a danger to the public.
Following protocol, the Lakeville officer was taken off-duty, and the weapons involved were taken for the investigation. The names of the officers, and the man involved, have not been released.
"I believe he did a good job, when we reviewed the body camera footage," Lakeville Chief Matthew Perkins said. "I have seen it and it'll speak for itself."
Body camera footage is expected to be released at a later time. The chief added that the weapon recovered at the scene may have been a replica gun.
An investigation is still underway, which is being led by the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. It's unclear when the man will have an arraignment.
