Police Shooting of a Maine Man Wielding a BB Gun is Ruled Justified

Maine's Attorney General has determined the shooting of a Wilton man who pointed a BB gun at cops was justified.

Wilton, Maine, Man Who Police Shot Had Mentioned Suicide By Cop

Gabriel Wilbur, then 35, of Wilton, suffered 3 gunshot wounds to the shoulder in the incident that took place on July 11, 2023.

He was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries.

The issues between Mr. Wilbur and law enforcement began on July 1st, 2023, after the tenants of 58 Cemetery Road in Wilton were evicted.

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Mr. Wilbur refused to leave the residence and told the police that if any officers came back to serve him papers, he wanted suicide by cop.

After this conversation, the police learned that Wilbur had a BB gun.

Maine Police Shot a Wilton Man After He Pointed a BB Gun at Them in a Standoff

On July 11, 2023, some people who had been hired to clean up the property told authorities that Wilbur had been swearing at them and had pointed a firearm at them.

When the police went to the location to serve papers on Wilburn, he refused to get out of his truck and, at one point, pointed a gun at the police.

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When one officer yelled 'Gun,' he pulled it back inside and shut the door.

Maine State Police Specialist Andrew Harvey positioned himself on a hill, and it was there that he noticed Wilbur pointing what appeared to be a firearm in his direction.

Harvey fired at the vehicle.

When Wilton Officer Cody Henry noticed Wilbur pointing a black object at himself and other officers nearby, he and Specialist Hardy both fired on the truck.

Wilbur then got out and had blood coming from gunshot wounds in his shoulder.

Officials had to tase him twice to get handcuffs on and take him into custody.

Once he was taken to a local hospital, officials found 2 CO2 hand guns and one CO2 rifle in the vehicle.

Maine Attorney General's Office Says Cops Were Justified in Shooting a Wilton Man

Wilbur received an 8-month sentence for reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and 6 months for creating a police standoff, to be served concurrently.

The Maine Attorney General's Office concluded that the officers had reason to believe that Mr. Wilbur posed a threat of serious bodily injury or death when he pointed the weapons toward members of law enforcement.

It was determined that the officers acted in self-defense for themselves and nearby officers when they fired upon Mr. Wilbur.