Police identify barricaded suspect who shot a 29-year-old officer in Wilbraham
A Massachusetts police officer is expected to be okay after he was shot by a barricaded suspect in Wilbraham Saturday night, officials said in an updated Sunday night.
The Wilbraham Police Department said that at about 8:20 p.m., officers responded to a residence on Old Carriage Drive after receiving word that a resident was threatening others inside the home.
Upon arrival, Wilbraham police, outside of the residence, exchanged gunfire with a 53-year-old male, later identified as Michael Ortega, who was inside the home.
A 29-year-old Wilbraham police officer suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Officials said the injured officer was in stable condition as of Sunday evening.
State police troopers based out of Springfield, a K9 team, a Special Tactics and Operations Team, and negotiators were called to the scene around 8:40 p.m. Members of the State Police Bomb Squad have also responded with robotic platforms.
Police said two people who were inside the home escaped through a second-floor window and onto the roof of the house’s adjoined garage. They were assisted off of the roof by police officers using a ladder.
Shortly after midnight Troopers deployed an armored vehicle to break a large ground-level window on the front of the home. Troopers then used a drone to locate Ortega inside the home.
Ortega was found in the front breezeway with gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition, police said Sunday evening.
Troopers said they recovered a handgun and ammunition next to the suspect.
Police said Ortega has been booked on charges of assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The incident is being investigated by the Wilbraham Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Hampden County District Attorney’s Office.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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