A Massachusetts highway turned into a terrifying scene for commuters when a gunman provoked a heavy police presence and prompted road closures… and TMZ takes a look at the chaos.
Eyewitnesses told TMZ… Interstate 190 was closed north of Worcester, Massachusetts. Wednesday afternoon, after a gunman took off down the highway on foot… diving and diving between cars in stopped traffic, trying to avoid capture.
Massachusetts State Police spokesman Brandon Doherty tells TMZ … troopers and Worcester police responded to a report of a man with a gun around 3:40 p.m. local time … and a shooting occurred shortly afterward .
As you can see in the images, several police officers entered the scene, pursuing the suspect from multiple angles.
Officers and the suspect exchanged gunfire at the end of the chase… at which point the man apparently shot himself in the head before being detained.
Officer Doherty told us the suspect is “in custody” – meaning there is “no longer a threat” – but that doesn’t mean he’s alive. Medical personnel responded to the scene… but no officers were hit.
It’s currently unclear whether the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound… but he passed out after pulling the trigger.
This update comes an hour after Massachusetts Transportation asked X riders to avoid I-190 near Worcester, saying the highway was closed “in both directions at Exit 2.”
In #WorcesterI-190 closed in both directions at exit 2.
– Mass transit (@MassDOT) October 2, 2024
@MassDOT
Worcester police also tried to dissuade drivers from heading onto the highway, also noting on the X that there was “heavy traffic” to avoid.
The story is developing…stay tuned.
