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Man Shot And Killed By Pittsfield Police During Domestic Disturbance
The preliminary results of an autopsy on Daniel Gillis indicate was shot seven times and died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Sexton conducted the autopsy on the 36-year-old Gillis on Saturday afternoon at Holyoke office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield Police officer shot and killed a man who allegedly charged officers after first barricading himself in his home.
District Attorney David Capeless' office says Daniel Gillis, 36, of 43 Taylor St. was shot by Officer Christopher Colello Friday afternoon. Officers had responded to the address at 12:50 in the afternoon on Friday to a report of an ongoing domestic incident.
"The caller indicated that her ex-boyfriend was at the house, causing a disturbance, and when she attempted to intercede, he kicked in the door," Police Chief Michael Wynn said. "Shortly after the initial patrol units responded, they called for additional assistance and declared it as a barricaded subject. The barricaded subject had a knife."
Gillis was apparently distraught after being fired from his job and was intoxicated, the district attorney's office alleges. He barricaded himself in the house and armed himself with the knife. The woman, who was described by in the DA's statement as Gillis' girlfriend, threw the knife out of a window but Gillis went and got another one.
Shortly after, he exited out a rear door of the home and allegedly charged at officers who were stationed on the side of the property.
"He exited the residence and was coming toward the officers," Wynn said.
Gillis refused to drop the weapon despite police orders, say law enforcement officials, and a civilian witness and a video from a bystander confirmed that.
Gillis was taken to Berkshire Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Friday's shooting incident is the second involving Colello. In November 2010, the officer shot Michael Barry after he had doused himself and another person with gasoline and fled into the woods in Dalton. Coello shot Barry when he refused to stop. Barry survived and later pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and vandalism. Numerous other charges were dropped and an internal investigation determined that Colello had not acted improperly.
