AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A law enforcement-involved shooting near the Togus Veterans Hospital has left a man dead.
The Maine Attorney General's Office says the man who was killed was 37-year-old James Popkowski, a military veteran from Medway.
Two neighbors tell NEWS CENTER someone had been shooting a gun in the woods Thursday morning along Route 17, on the Togus Hospital property. Employees at the hospital apparently also reported hearing shots. The neighbors say Togus Police arrived to investigate a truck parked on the shoulder of Route 17. Game Wardens showed up a few minutes later.
Neighbors say after a while, a man holding a rifle came out of the woods. A witness said that the officers and wardens told the man to put the rifle down and asked if anyone else was in the woods.
There was some sort of confrontation between Popkowski and Togus police officer Thomas Park and Sgt. Ron Dunham of the Maine Warden Service. The Maine Attorney General's Office says it still is not clear who exactly fired the shot that killed Popkowski. Warden Joey Lefebrve witnessed the confrontation, but did not fire.
The shooting happened about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the Togus VA hospital, although not near any of the buildings on the Togus campus. The hospital went into lockdown, but has since re-opened. There is a dispute about what law enforcement organization has jurisdiction on the property where the shooting took place. Augusta Police, Game Wardens, State Police and Togus Police are all at the scene. An airplane and State Police Tactical Team were brought in to make sure there was not another gunman in the woods.
Attorney General Janet Mills is also at the location of the shooting. Her office investigates all fatal shootings involving law enforcement officers.
An autopsy will be conducted Friday on Popkowski's body.Friday on Popkowski's body.
Click her for the WCSH news report.
Shooting near Maine Hospital leaves man dead
