Man Accused of Shooting Cop Charged With Attempted Murder

A man accused of shooting a Waterville police officer, before leading law enforcement on a high speed chase, is now in custody.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says Richard Murray-Burns of Harmony was arrested after being released from Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor Wednesday afternoon. Murray-Burns was charged with aggravated attempted murder for allegedly shooting a police officer during a traffic stop.

On December 22nd, Waterville Police Officer Timothy Hinton attempted to stop Murray-Burns' vehicle, as part of an investigation into an alleged shoplifting incident at Walmart. Police say the suspect shot at Hinton's vehicle, wounding him in both arms. Despite the gunshot wounds, Hinton gave chase in his vehicle until other law enforcement officers could take over the pursuit. The officer suffered non-life threatening injuries. Police say Murray-Burns had an assault-style weapon.

The chase ended on Route 2 in Canaan when officials say eight police officers fired on Murray-Burns' vehicle during a shootout, wounding him. Officials say many of the cruisers involved in the incident were struck by gunfire, with two damaged so badly they couldn't be driven. Those eight officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation by the Attorney General's Office, which is standard procedure in a police-involved shooting.