Adams Shooting, Stabbing Incident Under Investigation
ADAMS, Mass. — A stabbing victim with reportedly self-inflicted wounds was nearly shot by a police officer on Tuesday night.
According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, an officer responding to the scene at 31 Commercial St. fired his weapon when the victim was "observed approaching the officer in a threatening manner with an object in his hand." He missed, and no one was further injured.
The individual has been identified as Phillip White, 25 years old, of that address. He is being held at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for a mental health evaluation and is reported in stable physical condition.
The officer who discharged his weapon is on paid administrative leave from the Adams Police Department.
It started when a man called 911 at about 8:39 p.m. saying his friend had been stabbed and was bleeding, according to the DA's Office. Police and Northern Berkshire EMS responded and the ambulance was asked to stage until police cleared the scene, according to scanner reports.
When officers arrived at about 8:43 p.m. they found White, who appeared to have suffered sharp force injuries. These were later determined to be self-inflicted, according to the DA's Office.
"Shots fired, one party shot," said one officer at the scene over the scanner, then added a few seconds later, "subject is no longer armed at this time."
Dispatch was then told only one ambulance was needed and that "it doesn't seem to be life-threatening." Presumably this was describing White.
After the officer discharged their weapon, White was taken into custody without further incident.
The DA's Office did not identify what White was holding in his hand when he approached the officer.
State Police and North Adams Police were initially called for backup but North Adams was told they could stand down.
State Police arrived about 9:15 p.m. and were notified of an officer-involved shooting. The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the DA's Office responded to the scene.
Detectives said they observed blood around the sidewalk, entryway, and interior of 31 Commercial. The DA's Office said early evidence suggests that Mr. White both called 911 and inflicted the injuries upon himself, and that it is not believed that there was a "friend" and that Mr. White acted alone.
There were reportedly a dozen or so cruisers at the scene on Tuesday night, according to witnesses posting to Facebook. The address is a large multi-unit apartment building across from Liberty Street. Police were reportedly at the scene until early Wednesday morning.
"The Adams Police Department is directing all inquiries to the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office," said Police Chief Timothy Sorrell on Wednesday morning.
White has three outstanding warrants and the DA's Office expects him to be arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Wednesday.
The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit is leading the investigation and is interviewing witnesses and officers involved in the incident. Body-worn camera footage captured the incident and a ballistics report will be released by the Firearms Identification Section of the State Police upon its conclusion.
Law enforcement response included the Adams Police Department; Troop-B of the State Police; the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit; the MSP Crime Scene Services Section; and the MSP Firearms Identification Section. Northern Berkshire Ambulance provided emergency medical response.
The Adams Selectmen canceled a scheduled workshop on Wednesday night that would have discussed Police Department policies, including use of force.
Complete write-thru with new information at 12:19 p.m.
Tags: shooting, stabbing,
