A police officer was shot, and a suspect was killed amid a shootout between officers at a shopping plaza in Spencer, Massachusetts, sources tell NewsCenter 5.The shootout began just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after the suspect barricaded himself inside a Family Dollar store at the Big Y Shopping Plaza, sources say.According to sources, the officer was shot several times in the shooting and was taken to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. The officer is in stable condition and is expected to survive. The officer is a member of the Millbury Police Department and was a part of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, or CEMLEC, a unit which responded to the barricaded suspect incident, the town’s police chief, Brian Lewos, confirmed.There is a second crime scene a mile away from the scene at the plaza. It is unclear at this time if the two are connected.Video of the scene showed a large police response at the shopping plaza.Route 9 between West Main Street and South Spencer Road will be temporarily shut down while the investigation is ongoing, MassDOT confirmed.Spencer police have asked drivers to avoid the area.A Family Dollar employee told NewsCenter 5 that he saw the suspect run in and barricade himself in the store. He said he then heard what sounded like gunshots and saw someone with what they believed to be a gun.”He yelled at me, and I don’t remember what he said, but as soon as he yelled at me, I just ran out the back door,” the employee said. “It was terrifying. I’ve never experienced anything like that.” Another witness, Savannah Cotter, told NewsCenter 5 that she was with her children at the time of the shooting. Cotter recorded video of a large police scene near a McDonald’s, before three gunshots rang out and the video cut off. In the video below, Cotter said police were beating a man before the gunfire was heard.NewsCenter 5 will continue to provide updates as we learn more information.

SPENCER, Mass. —

A police officer was shot, and a suspect was killed amid a shootout between officers at a shopping plaza in Spencer, Massachusetts, sources tell NewsCenter 5.

The shootout began just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after the suspect barricaded himself inside a Family Dollar store at the Big Y Shopping Plaza, sources say.

According to sources, the officer was shot several times in the shooting and was taken to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. The officer is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

The officer is a member of the Millbury Police Department and was a part of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, or CEMLEC, a unit which responded to the barricaded suspect incident, the town’s police chief, Brian Lewos, confirmed.

There is a second crime scene a mile away from the scene at the plaza. It is unclear at this time if the two are connected.

Video of the scene showed a large police response at the shopping plaza.

Route 9 between West Main Street and South Spencer Road will be temporarily shut down while the investigation is ongoing, MassDOT confirmed.

Spencer police have asked drivers to avoid the area.

A Family Dollar employee told NewsCenter 5 that he saw the suspect run in and barricade himself in the store. He said he then heard what sounded like gunshots and saw someone with what they believed to be a gun.

“He yelled at me, and I don’t remember what he said, but as soon as he yelled at me, I just ran out the back door,” the employee said. “It was terrifying. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

Another witness, Savannah Cotter, told NewsCenter 5 that she was with her children at the time of the shooting.

Cotter recorded video of a large police scene near a McDonald’s, before three gunshots rang out and the video cut off.

In the video below, Cotter said police were beating a man before the gunfire was heard.

NewsCenter 5 will continue to provide updates as we learn more information.