Law enforcement responded originally to the address for a domestic dispute. A woman told police that 29-year-old Steven Righini had fought with her and pushed her into a wall. Responding deputies found the woman outside of the home and were told that Righini was inside with their four-week-old infant.
The deputies were able to get the suspect to come outside, but he reportedly resisted arrest, pulled a pistol from his waistband, opened fire and went back inside with the baby.
Deputies got back in their vehicle and tried to back out of the driveway, officials. Righini reportedly fired on the vehicle and hit Deputy Shane Campbell in the shoulder.
The deputy was treated and released at a local hospital, WMTW reports.
Negotiators from the Maine State Police tactical team failed to get Righini to surrender. He then attempted to drive away and law enforcement was able to disable his vehicle, officials say. When he couldn’t drive away, he tried to flee on foot.
Righini allegedly fired his weapon at a Maine State Police K-9 named Preacher and struck the dog in the abdomen. Preacher, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic, where he was stabilized, but he died of his injuries early Tuesday morning.
Authorities said after he shot the K-9, Righini pointed his weapon at officers when MSP Specialist Andrew Hardy and MSP Sgt. Jonathan Russell, Preacher's handler, shot and killed the suspect at the scene.