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A 38-year-old Limerick man was fatally shot on Tuesday night after he was reported to police for making suicidal threats.
Christopher Harriman was reported to the Augusta dispatch center by a concerned citizen after he had continuously been making suicidal comments while sitting in an Escalade in the Kennebunk rest area on the Maine Turnpike at around 6:38 p.m. The caller indicated that they believed Harriman had an AR-style rifle, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss.
Harriman had also reportedly made threats to harm others, according to Moss.
When officers arrived at the Kennebunk rest area, Harriman was not there, but was later located due to help from the community. After police located Harriman, he reportedly led them on a slow chase, evading officials. During part of the chase, Harriman pointed the firearm at the responding officers, Moss said.
Harriman stopped his vehicle at the Shop ‘N Save lot in Old Orchard Beach, where police located him and attempted to talk to him and take him into custody.
During the attempt to calm Harriman down, he reportedly reached into the vehicle and loaded the rifle. Trooper Ryan Philips then fatally shot Harriman.
Phillips is now on administrative leave while the Office of the Maine Attorney General investigates the case, as is standard procedure following police shootings.
Further details about the encounter were not immediately available Wednesday morning.
