A 37-year-old man was shot and killed by Portland police Thursday night after authorities say he threatened workers with a firearm, stole vehicles at gunpoint, led officers on a pursuit through downtown Portland and then appeared to reach for a weapon while being pursued on foot.
Three Portland police officers have been placed on administrative leave following the deadly-force incident, which will now be investigated by the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
According to the Portland Police Department, the series of incidents began at approximately 9:32 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, when the Portland Regional Communications Center began receiving reports of shots fired near Spring and Oak streets.
Officers responded to the parea but were initially unable to locate anyone.
A short time later, dispatchers received another call reporting that a shirtless man armed with a firearm was threatening employees at Nova Seafood, located at 555 Commercial Street.
Police identified the man as Jacob Hastings, 37, whose date of birth was listed as Jan. 21, 1989.
Before officers arrived at Nova Seafood, police said Hastings fled the area in a stolen pickup truck.
The situation quickly escalated.
Police said dispatchers subsequently received several additional reports involving crashes and vehicles being stolen at gunpoint.
Officers eventually located Hastings on Congress Street and began pursuing the vehicle.
According to police, Hastings fled down the Franklin Arterial before turning into the Casco Bay Lines property at 56 Commercial Street.
The pursuit ended when Hastings crashed the vehicle while entering the property, disabling it.
Police said Hastings then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, with officers pursuing him into the outdoor terminal area of Casco Bay Lines.
Officers issued commands to Hastings during the pursuit, according to the department, but police said he did not comply.
“Hastings failed to follow commands, reached into his waistband, and presented his hands as though he had a firearm in the direction of officers and was shot,” Portland police said in a statement Friday.
Police did not say in the initial release whether Hastings was holding a firearm at the moment officers opened fire.
A firearm was subsequently recovered from one of the stolen vehicles, according to the department.
Officers immediately administered emergency medical aid following the shooting. Portland MEDCU personnel pronounced Hastings dead at the scene.
Portland police identified the three officers involved in the shooting as Anthony George, Jordin Jackson and Greg Ishihara.
All three have been placed on administrative leave, which the department said is standard procedure following an officer-involved deadly-force incident.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office will investigate the officers’ use of deadly force. Such investigations are standard following police shootings in Maine.
The Portland Police Department said it would not release additional information about the incident at this time and directed further inquiries concerning the shooting to the Attorney General’s Office.
The investigation also comes after a chaotic night along Portland’s waterfront that generated reports of gunfire, a police pursuit and a substantial law-enforcement response around Commercial Street and the Casco Bay Lines terminal.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed any portion of Thursday night’s events, or who may have information relevant to the investigation, to contact investigators at 207-874-8575.
