Pastor who called police before officer involved shooting speaks out

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@ChloeLeshner

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WLNE) — We’re learning more about what happened in the moments leading up to yesterday’s officer involved shooting in Attleboro. The suspect was first found sitting in a church holding the gun he’s believed to have used to shoot at two police officers.

The pastor tells ABC 6 News he never felt threatened by Eric Lindsey but he certainly was anxious because of the gun. He says they spoke for less than 3 minutes and Lindsey very clearly needed help.

Just minutes before police say he fired his weapon on two officers, riddling their cruisers with bullets, Eric Lindsey was spotted at the Assembly of God church in Attleboro.

"We surprised each other. He was not expecting me and I was not expecting him and yes he had a gun, it was very obvious he had a gun," says Randal Ackland, the Lead Pastor at the Church.

Ackland was picking up a phone charger in the sanctuary when he stumbled upon Lindsey early Monday morning.

"All I had in the back of my mind was that in 25 minutes I’ve got parents and day care children coming and whatever is needed to diffuse the situation is what needs to be done," he says.

Their encounter was much calmer than his run–in with police minutes later on Newport Avenue.

"I did not feel threatened. He did not point the gun at me and when I came close to him he put the gun away so that I couldn’t see it," says Ackland.

Ackland says it was clear Lindsey was struggling and offered him help, giving him the option to leave which he did. That’s when Ackland called police.

"It’s very clear I stumbled upon a very troubled person and I have no idea what he was thinking at the time. I’m sure he was not thinking good thoughts when I came upon him because he was actually relieved to see me in a sense," says Ackland.

Lindsey is still in the hospital tonight and is set to be arraigned once he’s released.

(C) WLNE/ABC 6 2018