Man shot and killed while driving at police officers in Beverly identified

The man fatally shot by the Beverly police on Saturday has been identified, according to Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office.

Christopher Whitmarsh, 49, was shot and killed by police officers after he drove his SUV into two police cruisers.

Officers responded to reports of a suicidal man around 3:10 p.m. on Saturday in the area of Balch Street behind the Cummings Center business complex.

When they got there, police said they saw the man drive his GMC Envoy into a Toyota Highlander two times. The man then threw the Envoy in reverse, hitting one of the cruisers, before backing into another cruiser.

At that point, an officer jumped out, drew his weapon and ordered Whitmarsh to stop. When Whitmarshmoved again, the officer shot one round through the suspect’s driver-side window, striking him in the shoulder.

DA Blodgett’s office said that the shooting is under investigation and a “full report” will be made public once the investigation is finished.