Rockland Standoff Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder

ROCKLAND, MA — Police charged the man who they say barricaded himself in his home, fired shots at a family member, and threatened to shoot police.

Richard Blaikie, 68, faces an attempted murder charge and firearm-related charges. Police said Blaikie was angry after going in for a mental health check earlier in the day and being denied a medication he requested from a doctor. Police said he had been drinking when he fired the gunshot in his home on Chestnut Circle.

A neighbor told WBZ-TV the bullet whizzed right over his head after going through the suspect's wall.

Police said Blaikie's son and daughter were home when he fired his gun. They said he shot in the direction of his son, but no one was hurt. Blaikie's family told Rockland Police Chief John Llewellyn that he was threatening to shoot police.

Blaikie then barricaded himself and refused to come out. Neighbors close by were evacuated by state police. Other area homes were put under a shelter-in-place.

A SWAT team assisted local police on scene, and police said after a phone call with a family member, Blaikie was surrendered. Blaikie was taken into custody and transported to South Shore Hospital for evaluation before being sent back into police custody.

The state bomb squad, after Blaikie was taken into custody, searched his home and said they found potential bomb-making materials.

Blaikie was evaluated at a hospital and taken to Plymouth County Correctional Facility pending his arraignment at Hingham District Court.

Blaikie is charged with attempted murder, possession of a large capacity firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, assault in a dwelling (firearm-armed,) possession of ammunition without an FID card, and disorderly conduct.

Image via shutterstock