Mass. robbery suspect wanted to be shot: Police

Authorities in Methuen believe that a man suspected of a robbery wanted officers to shoot him as he pointed a pellet gun at them Thursday night.

James Dobbins, 36, called police and allegedly asked them to come to his home after he was identified as a suspect in a convenience store robbery earlier on Thursday, WCVB reported. Police identified him from surveillance footage captured at a bank around the time of the store robbery and posted the images to Facebook, where Dobbins saw them.

When police arrived at the Summit Place Apartments, they said there was a “violent confrontation” between officers and the suspect, who brandished a gun and pointed it at police, causing them to open fire, WHDH reported.

“The man brandished the [pellet gun], pointed it at the first two detectives. Shots were fired. He then ran, pointed it at the other two detectives. Additional shots were fired. The subject then went down and the officers immediately began performing first aid,” Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said to WCVB.

After being transferred to a Boston medical facility, Dobbins was arrested in his hospital bed and charged with armed robbery, according to Fox25. Police have said that more charges may be likely.

The four officers who shot at Dobbins have been placed on administrative leave, according to WHDH, which added that none of them were injured in the incident.