Officer and civilian shot, suspect killed in Spencer

Local News

After the suspect shot a person and fled, he barricaded himself in a bathroom, where an exchange of gunfire resulted in his death and the injuries to the officer, officials say.

After shooting a person on Main Street in Spencer and fleeing Tuesday evening, a suspect barricaded himself inside a Family Dollar bathroom, leading to a gunfire exchange with police that left him dead and an officer injured, authorities say.

The Worcester District Attorney’s Office identified the suspect as 35-year-old Patrick Madison in a Wednesday statement.

According to the DA’s office, members of the Spencer Police Department were called to the area of 20 Main St. shortly after 5 p.m. to find a person who was suffering from a gunshot wound.

About 12 minutes later, officials say officers found a person matching the suspect’s description from the incident in the area of West Main Street. 

Officers approached Madison, he took out a firearm, and “shots were fired,” according to authorities. Madison then fled to a nearby Family Dollar. 

The DA’s office says officers evacuated the store and surrounding businesses and called in additional resources. 

Members of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team entered the Family Dollar and located Madison in a closed bathroom. An ensuing “exchange of gunfire” resulted in injuries to a Millbury police officer and the death of Madison, authorities say.

The DA’s office says the officer was transported to a hospital and was in stable condition as of Wednesday. Emergency services also gave aid to the initial shooting victim, who they transported to UMass Medical Center. 

The incident remains under investigation by State Police and Spencer police.

Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.