RI Fugitive From Coventry Identified In Attleboro Police Shootout

ATTLEBORO, MA — The suspect who police said started a Monday morning shootout with police on Route 1A has been identified as Eric Lindsey, 41 of Coventry. He is facing a host of charges after being saved by the very officers he was shooting, Attleboro's mayor said.

Lindsey is also wanted in Rhode Island on attempted murder charges, said Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney. He underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds at Rhode Island Hospital.

"They basically wounded him to the point where if they had not administered first aid with a tourniquet, it would have been critical," Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux told Patch.

The two officers involved avoided injury when the suspect fired into their police cruiser, despite bullets flying through the windshield, police said. One bullet hole was found in a headrest. Heagney said the two officers were taken to the hospital as a precaution for stress-related issues.

Police went to Newport Avenue around 7 a.m. for a report of a gun-wielding man at an Assembly of God church. One officer was already out of the cruiser when Lindsey started shooting, and the other dove out during the gunfire, police said.

Police are not sure why Lindsey was at the church.

Lindsey will be charged with two counts of firearm-armed assault to murder, four counts of attempted assault and battery with a firearm, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possessing a large capacity feeding device, and one count each of breaking and entering, unlawful possession of a large capacity firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, carrying an illegal firearm and carrying a loaded illegal firearm.

Mike Carraggi, Patch, contributed to this story.

Photo by Jared Pelletier, NBC10, used with permission