SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A man was fatally shot by a South Portland officer Friday morning while police were responding to a call alleging domestic violence with shots fired.
Police responded to the call at about 4 a.m. at a Summit Terrace apartment complex off Broadway and were told the alleged suspect had fled the apartment in his pickup truck, according to a news release from the South Portland Police Department.
Christapher Dodge, 47, returned to the apartment and reportedly engaged with officers in an armed confrontation, according to the release.
Dodge was shot by officer Anthony Verville and was later pronounced dead at the scene, the release stated.
Verville has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard protocol when officers are involved in a shooting.
Neighbors living at Summit Terrace said the shooting woke them and their families up, many stating it was hard to fall back asleep knowing there were bullets flying.
"I wasn't nervous, but it sounded like something was going on," Brenden Williams, who has lived at Summit Terrace for three years, said. "My first reaction was someone was popping something or people firing fireworks in the early morning. I didn't think it was actually gunshots."
Williams said he doesn't have strong hearing and said his roommate had to tell him to get away from the window when the shooting first started.
"She told me she heard a round of gunshots and then even more then I was like, 'Uh, where is that coming from?'" Williams said.
Williams said he had never heard of Christapher Dodge or the family that lives in the unit.
The incident is under investigation by the attorney general's office.
South Portland police were aided by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and the attorney general's office.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app.