Taunton Police Safely End Armed Standoff With Individual

TAUNTON — Taunton Police arrested a suspect following an armed standoff in the early-morning hours of Thursday.

According to Chief Edward J. Walsh, Taunton Police and other law enforcement partners responded at about 11:45 p.m. on February 15 to a home on Pratt Street for a report of an armed individual making threats.

The chief said the individual had a handgun and had shown up outside the home, making threats to a person known to them who was inside the residence.

The duplex home and the immediate area were evacuated out of an abundance of caution, Walsh said, and reverse 911 calls were sent out to residents warning them of the situation.

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Walsh said the suspect remained outside, gesturing with the handgun, as police began de-escalation efforts. The Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team was brought in as well.

“After several hours of crisis negotiations, the suspect made a gesture with their gun resulting in a SEMLEC SWAT officer firing one shot around 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, that struck the suspect's hand, causing the suspect to drop the gun,” Walsh said.

Police then took the suspect to a local hospital to be treated for the hand injury. The gun itself was recovered and taken into evidence, and the scene was cleared by 8 a.m.

Walsh said the incident remains under investigation by Taunton Police. The name of the suspect was not released.