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Webster Police Kill Man In Shootout

WEBSTER (CBS) – A man armed with a shotgun was killed in a shootout with Webster Police early Friday morning.

Police were called to a home North Main Street around 9 p.m. Thursday for a report of domestic abuse.

By the time they arrived, they said Neil Seifert, 40, had stolen his girlfriend's car and drove to his home on Putnam Road in Charlton.

There, investigators say, he broke into his stepfather's shotgun case, fought off his stepfather, took a gun and drove back to his girlfriend's house in Webster.

Officers intercepted Seifert and chased him into the backyard. There, police say he fired two rounds from the shotgun, narrowly missing two officers.

Police say they were forced to fire back, hitting Seifert.

One witness said he heard several gunshots.

"(Seifert) pulled up, got out and started running. I guess they started yelling at him. He turned around and shot at them and the officers shot him. It was maybe four or five shots. Two from the shotgun and maybe three from the police," the witness, who only wanted to be identified as "Jack," told WBZ.

Webster Shooting
This car was damaged in the shootout in Webster. (WBZ-TV)

Seifert was rushed to Harrington Hospital, where he died less than an hour later.

Neither officer involved in the shooting was hurt, but they were placed on administrative leave until the investigation is finished.

"There was nothing easy about this case, both projectiles narrowly missed both police officers from a double barreled shotgun, they did their job today," Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early said Friday.

Seifert's girlfriend had two prior restraining orders against him and he had a four-page police record, according to the D.A.

WBZ-TV's Susie Steimle contributed to this report.  You can follow her on Twitter @SusieWBZ.

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