A New York man died at a Maine hospital after he was shot by a police officer during an incident in Skowhegan, according to authorities.Skowhegan police Chief David Bucknam said at about 6:33 p.m. Saturday, the department received a call about suspicious activity at a Water Street home. The caller reported there was activity at a home that was not occupied, as the person who lived there died earlier in the day.Officers who responded to the scene saw a man and woman walking away from the home and told them to stop.Bucknam said the man, later identified as Kenneth “Carlos” Ortega, refused to comply with commands and fired a gun in the air.According to Bucknam, Ortega then pointed the gun down toward officers, which is when Skowhegan police Officer Benaiah Willhoite shot Ortega.Ortega, 30, was transported to Redington-Fairview General Hospital, where he died of his injuries.Bucknam said Willhoite is being placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol when an officer is involved in a deadly-force incident.The Maine Attorney General’s Office will investigate the shooting.
SKOWHEGAN, Maine —
A New York man died at a Maine hospital after he was shot by a police officer during an incident in Skowhegan, according to authorities.
Skowhegan police Chief David Bucknam said at about 6:33 p.m. Saturday, the department received a call about suspicious activity at a Water Street home. The caller reported there was activity at a home that was not occupied, as the person who lived there died earlier in the day.
Officers who responded to the scene saw a man and woman walking away from the home and told them to stop.
Bucknam said the man, later identified as Kenneth “Carlos” Ortega, refused to comply with commands and fired a gun in the air.
According to Bucknam, Ortega then pointed the gun down toward officers, which is when Skowhegan police Officer Benaiah Willhoite shot Ortega.
Ortega, 30, was transported to Redington-Fairview General Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Bucknam said Willhoite is being placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol when an officer is involved in a deadly-force incident.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office will investigate the shooting.