Firefighter Arrested After Standoff In Lawrence
LAWRENCE (CBS) - A city firefighter has been arrested after a brief standoff with Lawrence police at his home. "Units responded and minutes after their response, they heard two gunshots," described Police Chief James Fitzpatrick.
Police told WBZ that they initially received a phone call around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday about a disturbance from a distraught man. That call led them to the firefighter's house on Boylston Street.
According to the Essex County District Attorney's office, the firefighter, later identified as 39-year-old Joseph Carberry shot himself in his leg inside his house.
"It appears that this person was distraught. The wound to his leg was self-inflicted. By his admission, it was self-inflicted with a 357-magnum," said Chief Fitzpatrick.
Police said his wife was the only other person inside and was not harmed. They said his bull mastiff dog ran out the front door that was already propped open. They shot the dog out of fear of it attacking an officer. The dog survived.
"He was very upset about the dog being shot and the officers said look the best thing you can do is just surrender and put an end to this and that's what he did," said Chief Fitzpatrick.
Carberry was arraigned in Lawrence General Hospital Tuesday afternoon. He was charged with discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and threats to commit a crime. Police said Carberry has no priors.
He was held without bail until his dangerousness hearing which is scheduled for Friday, September 9th. Police found up to 13 of his legally-owned guns in the house.
"Rifles, shotguns, and an assault rifle. All were legal, his license has subsequently been suspended due to the charges," explained the chief.
The city's mayor and the fire chief did not offer a comment because it's a city personnel matter.
A woman walking inside of the firefighter's house told WBZ's Chantee Lans that Carberry is the greatest man she has ever met. He remains in the hospital.
