An off-duty North Andover police officer was shot during a confrontation with another officer from the same department, who was on duty and serving a court order at the time. The incident, which occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. yesterday at the home of the off-duty officer, is currently under investigation, according to a news release from the Essex County District Attorney's Office.
The on-duty officer discharged their firearm following the confrontation. The nature of the court order that precipitated the event remains undisclosed, the injured officer's condition has not been detailed, yet medical aid was provided immediately following the shooting. The victim was subsequently transported to a hospital in the Boston area for treatment, authorities have said.
Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray addressed the situation in a joint statement, confirming that "an armed confrontation" took place during the service of a court order but have not provided further specifics on the events leading up to the shooting. The information regarding the encounter and the court order itself remains scant as the investigation continues, with the joint statement obtained by MassLive detailing very little in the way of context or motive.
As of now, neither the North Andover Police Department nor the Essex County District Attorney's Office have released the names of the officers involved. The investigation into the shooting is being led by the DA's office and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to that jurisdiction, as reported by NBC Boston.
