Police exchange shots with suspect

Attleboro, Mass. (AP) — A suspect who opened fire on two police officers responding to reports of an armed man in a church will face numerous charges after he recovers from gunshot wounds sustained in the early-morning confrontation, prosecutors said Monday.

Neither officer, both described as rookies on the force, was struck by gunfire or otherwise suffered serious injuries. One escaped being hit only by diving out of his cruiser as it was still moving, said Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney.

“This was such an amazing act of God that these officers survived this incident,” he said.

Bullets were later found lodged in the headrests of both police cruisers.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s office identified the suspect as Eric Lindsey, 41, of Coventry, R.I.

Lindsey was shot several times when officers returned fire, police said, and later underwent surgery at Rhode Island Hospital. His condition wasn’t immediately known.

Lindsey was formally charged Monday afternoon with two counts of armed assault to murder, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, illegal possession of a large capacity firearm, breaking and entering and other charges, prosecutors said.

Lindsey will be arraigned at a later date in Attleboro District Court.

The officers were responding to a 911 call at about 6:45 a.m. from the pastor of a church who reported there was a man inside the building with a handgun, Heagney said. The man, who had two backpacks, left the church and was walking up the street when the officers found him a short time later.

“Without provocation,” the chief said, the suspect turned and started firing on the police cruisers.

In a statement, Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux said the officers, despite having just escaped with their own lives, came to the aid of the suspect by applying a tourniquet to his wounds.

“After taking fire from the suspect they not only saved their own lives and each other’s lives, but they also saved the suspect’s life, ending the situation,” the mayor said.

District Attorney Thomas Quinn said the officers were taken to a hospital as a precaution and later released.