Police Shoot Suspect In Leominster CVS Robbery
LEOMINSTER (CBS) – An armed robbery suspect was injured after being shot by a Leominster police officer late Tuesday night.
Ryan Powell, a 24-year-old Leominster resident, allegedly demanded narcotics from two employees at CVS on Nelson Street just before 11 p.m.
Police say when the employees refused, he assaulted them and pointed what appeared to be a gun at them. The employees then gave Powell a bottle of OxyContin and a bottle of Xanax.
Officers found Powell behind a building on Highland Ave.
When police told him to drop his weapon, he allegedly held the gun to his head several times, shot it in the air and then pointed it at police.
A Leominster officer then fired one shot at Powell, police say, hitting him in the lower part of his face.
He was taken to UMass-Memorial Hospital in Worcester and is expected to survive.
Powell was arrested and charged with armed robbery, assault and battery, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The officer who shot Powell has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation, which is standard department policy.
Powell was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in the UMass-Memorial intensive care unit.
He was held without bail until his dangerousness hearing, which is scheduled for May 5 in Leominster District Court.
