An argument about a utility bill escalated when a police officer fired his weapon at a BJJ instructor at a Crossfit gym in Salem, New Hampshire, Tuesday morning.
An employee from Liberty Utilities showed up at the Phantom Crossfit gym Tuesday morning and was there to shut down the power because of unpaid bills. The gym’s owner, Chris Bright, says he had recently worked out a payment plan with the company.
Bright was carrying a gun on him, as he has a license to carry, but the utility employee felt threatened and called the police.
When the police arrived, the gym’s Jiu-Jitsu instructor Ray Shawdee, was walking by, shirtless and barefoot as he had just finished a workout. The officers saw the two men and told them to drop to the ground. Bright obeyed the order, but Shawdee, was walking away from the officers and towards his car when he turned around with his hands near his waist.
The police shot at Shawdee and missed.
Lt. Joel Dolan told necn.com
“The suspect got to his vehicle, and turned around quickly with his hands in front of him as if he was holding a gun. One Salem officer fired one single round at the officer, which missed him.”
Shawdee has been charged with reckless conduct and criminal threatening. He told necn by phone he was very emotional and not ready to share his side of the story.
The officer who fired the bullet is now on leave pending an internal investigation.
