CANAAN – A Harmony man pulled out an assault-style rifle on Sunday when he was stopped for shoplifting in Waterville, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Richard Murray-Burns, 29, allegedly shot a Waterville police officer in both arms.
Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey says despite having been shot, Officer Timothy Hinton pursued the suspect.
“I gotta commend the officer,” Massey said. “It was just heroic on his part to want to continue that chase after being shot. We counted a minimum of 15 bullet holes in our cruiser.”
Law enforcement from all over the region converged on the shooting scene and began chasing and exchanging gunfire with Murray-Burns.
Police say he was able to disable some of the responding vehicles with his high-powered weapon.
Police eventually shot Murray-Burns near the intersection of Routes 2 and 23, ending the chase in Canaan.
He was initially taken to the hospital in Bangor, but is now in police custody, according to the police chief.
Charges are expected to be brought against Murray-Burns in connection with the shooting.
Officer Hinton is home recovering.
