For Immediate Release   August 4, 2007

                                         
Contact: Corey Welford/Meredith Lerner 617-679-6522

Avon Resident Killed During Encounter With Framingham Police Officer

FRAMINGHAM - Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that an Avon resident was shot and killed during an encounter with a Framingham Police officer last evening.

Karl Thomsen, age 41, of Avon, was pronounced dead at the MetroWest Medical Center last evening at approximately 8:41 p.m.

“The decedent was shot and killed last evening after he flagged down the officer on patrol and then apparently came at him wielding a large knife,” District Attorney Leone said. “As with any incident in which an on-duty officer discharges his firearm and a fatality results, our office along with the Massachusetts State Police will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.”

According to authorities, at approximately 8:19 p.m. last evening, Framingham Police Officer Steve Casey was on patrol when he was flagged down by Thomsen in the area of 380 Concord Street in Framingham. The officer was on patrol duty in a marked Framingham Police cruiser and in full uniform. Thomsen then explained to the officer that he had discovered a dead body nearby.  There is no present evidence to support that is true.

Shortly after the officer exited his cruiser, Thomsen then apparently approached the officer in a threatening manner while wielding a large knife. Casey then discharged his firearm four times, wounding Thomsen.

Thomsen was transported by ambulance to the MetroWest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The officer appears to have been uninjured during the incident.

Per protocol, under these circumstances, the shooting and death are under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The Framingham Police Department will also conduct an internal administrative review of the incident per department policy.

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