Worcester police shoot man in confrontation
By Sarah Gantz, Globe Correspondent
A 34-year-old man was shot by Worcester police this afternoon after he fired a weapon at several officers. Police said a pellet gun that was a replica of a .45-caliber pistol was recovered at the shooting scene.
Sean Driscoll of Worcester was taken to a local hospital for surgery and was in stable condition, police said in a statement. He is facing charges of armed assault with intent to murder for firing at the officers on Thorne Street.
Several officers were also taken to the hospital for evaluation and have been released, the statement said.
Driscoll fled his Wall Street home after officers responded to a call from his wife at 11:35 a.m. reporting that he had ingested a large amount of prescription medication and was acting irrationally. Driscoll said from inside the apartment that he had a gun. When officers forced the door open, he was gone.
Driscoll's wife called again at about 2:45 p.m., reporting that he had returned to the apartment to collect knives and an axe, then fled the home again.
Police located Driscoll shortly afterward on Thorne Street, less than 500 feet from his apartment, and ordered him to drop his weapons. Disregarding them, he fired, police said. Officers fired back, striking him several times.
In addition to the pellet gun, five knives and an axe were recovered at the scene.
A message left for a Worcester police spokesman this evening wasn't imediately returned.
