"N.H. man made ‘gun gesture’ before police opened fire" by Laura Crimaldi Globe Staff August 18, 2015
Police in Salem, N.H., opened fire Tuesday morning on a man who they say made a “gun gesture” and ignored officers’ commands during a confrontation with law enforcement.
An officer fired one round from his weapon, but the bullet did not strike the man — later identified as Raymond Shawdee, 31, of Nashua, police said. Shawdee was charged with criminal threatening and reckless conduct, police said in a statement.
The shooting took place after Salem police were summoned to Phantom CrossFit at 286 North Broadway at about 10:42 a.m. for a report of a man who had approached a Liberty Utilities worker with a handgun, police said in a statement.
Shawdee works in a martial arts studio that sublets space in the gym, said Salem police Sergeant Joseph L. Keating. No one was injured, police said.
The utility worker was there to shut off the gym’s power and said he was met by a man who was allegedly holding a handgun and said that “he would do what he had to do to keep the power on,” police said.
Police said they saw a man, whom they later identified as Shawdee, leave the building. The man, police said, ignored officers’ verbal commands, including orders to show his hands.
“Instead, [the man] turned quickly toward the officers with his hand in a ‘gun gesture,’ ” the statement said. “As the male spun, one Salem officer discharged his weapon at the male, firing one round.”
Shawdee, who was taken into custody, was found to be unarmed, according to police.
Police said a second man, whom they declined to identify, was found inside the gym with a gun. No charges had been brought against the second man as of Tuesday evening.
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Police declined to say whether the second man also worked at the gym.
Police dispatchers tried to contact the business by telephone and officers set up a perimeter at the business and restricted traffic on North Broadway, the statement said.
Route 28 was closed for about an hour during the investigation. Police did not name the officer who fired.
Shawdee’s arraignment is set for next month in Salem District Court, Keating said. He did not know if Shawdee has a lawyer.
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Arraignment for WHAT?
He DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
He made a "gun gesture," which means when they yelled at him -- probably thought it wasn't for him at first -- he turned around.
John Shore, a spokesman for Liberty Utilities, said two workers went to the business but he declined to comment on the purpose of the visit. He said officers instructed the employees to the leave the property, which they did. Both workers were “safe and unharmed,” Shore said.
Messages left Tuesday for Phantom CrossFit and the martial arts studio were not returned.
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Kind of a shoddy investigation and report there, isn't it?
Upon further reflection coming back for the evening, I suppose he is lucky he wasn't one of the 2+ dead at the hands of law enforcement or anyone else yesterday, today, tomorrow.
