Press Release  State Police Respond to Suicide on Route 140

Freetown — Massachusetts State Police Release -- 05062018 -- State Police Respond to Suicide on Route 140

Massachusetts State Police responded to a suicide by gunshot that occurred overnight in a vehicle on Route 140 in New Bedford.

Late last night Troop D patrols were advised to be on the lookout for a red Ford Explorer, with an unknown Maine registration, being operated erratically on Route 24 south in Raynham. A short time later State Police learned that the driver of the Explorer, a 32-year-old man from Millinocket, Maine, was suicidal and armed, and had threatened to shoot anyone who tried to stop him.

Shortly before midnight, a Trooper located the vehicle traveling on Route 140 in Freetown, near Exit 8. The Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle. The operator, the Maine man, refused to stop. Troop D Headquarters authorized pursuit of the vehicle and assumed command and control.

A short time later the Maine man stopped his vehicle at Route 140 at Route 6 and immediately shot himself. The man was transported by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where he was pronounced deceased.

No further information is being released as this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.

To view video of pursuit, click here.

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