A manhunt is underway Wednesday morning for a suspect who fatally shot a Sheriff’s deputy that was responding to a gas station robbery in Maine, officials said. The suspect then stole the deputy’s marked police vehicle and robbed a gas station.
John Williams is on the loose, and state police said he now believed to be on foot and is “armed and dangerous.”
Anyone who sees the suspect is being told to call 911 immediately.
Somerset County Deputy Corporal Eugene Cole was shot and killed at around 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday on Route 2 in Somerset County, Maine.
Somerset County Deputy Corporal Eugene Cole (Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
He was responding to a robbery at Cumberland Farms on Waterville Road in Norridgewock.
Waterville Road in Norridgewock, Maine. (Google Maps)
“Our thoughts and prayers go out this morning to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and to the family, friends and coworkers of Corporal Eugene Cole,” the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department said in a Facebook post.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage tweeted about Cole’s death on Wednesday.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family of fallen Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene Cole. If you live in Somerset County and the surrounding area, please cooperate with law enforcement and stay safe,” he said.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family of fallen Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene Cole. If you live in Somerset County and the surrounding area, please cooperate with law enforcement and stay safe.
— Paul R. LePage (@Governor_LePage) April 25, 2018
