The Maine Attorney General’s Office has concluded that a police shooting in Portland last year was justified.
The shooting in October of 2021 left 42-year-old Edward Hyman with non-life threatening injuries. Officers were responding to a reported burglary near the Preble Street Soup Kitchen on Oxford Street.
Police said Hyman was approached by officers as they tried to locate the burglary suspect. In the report, the AG’s office says Hyman appeared to be retrieving something from his pocket and then moved towards Sgt. Timothy Farris and pointed his hands in a shooting stance while holding an object. The report says Hyman ignored repeated commands from officers to remove his hands from his pockets.
Hyman was then shot by Officer Nevin Rand.
Hyman later told police he wanted to provoke officers to shoot him because he wanted to commit suicide.
No firearm was recovered from the scene.
Hyman pled guilty to multiple charges related to the incident, but those will be dismissed if he completes a deferred deposition program.