Massachusetts

Suspect in Middleborough Police Standoff Takes His Own Life

The suspect who fired at police, prompting an hours-long standoff, has been found dead of an apparent suicide, according to police.

The standoff began around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when police in Middleborough, Massachusetts, were fired upon while attempting to serve an arrest warrant at 469 Wareham St.

No one was hit by the gunfire, which prompted police to pull back, take cover and establish a perimeter around the house. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old John Mann of Middleborough, remained barricaded inside the house.

"One officer was shot at," Middleborough police Chief Joseph Perkins said. "There were about a half dozen officers who were at the home."

"The most important thing we can all extrapolate from this is what a dangerous job our police, our first responders, have every day," said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz. "When they're just simply men and women going to work, and you have individuals such as this, who are wanted by the police, who are pulling firearms and discharging them at men and women trying to do their job."

Chief Perkins said the situation was “eerily similar” to what happened in Barnstable where Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon was killed by a suspect while serving a warrant.

“We didn’t want to press the issue and force and outcome that would result in anyone getting hurt,” he said.

In the wake of what happened to Gannon, Perkins said as soon as officers were fired on, they backed off and set up a perimeter.

“It was slow and methodical, and that’s not usually how law enforcement operates, but I think looking at the circumstances, the situation was contained, we knew the subject was in the home, we wanted to keep everyone safe,” he said.

State police and the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team responded to the scene to assist local police.

All tactics were used to get Mann out. He was found dead on the first floor of the home around 5 p.m. A rifle and two handguns were found inside the home.

"This is not the outcome we wanted. We really would have liked to have seen it come to a conclusion where no one got hurt," Chief Perkins said.

Police said the warrants they were attempting to serve were for multiple felony charges, but the specific offenses were not released Tuesday.

Residents and businesses between Interstate 495 and Locust Street along Route 28 were asked to shelter in place for the duration of the standoff. All others were told to avoid the area. The I-495 northbound ramp to Exit 3 and a portion of Route 28 were also temporarily closed.

Police said the residence in question is the only home in an otherwise commercial/industrial area.

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