AG’s Office Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Old Orchard Beach

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at approximately 6:38 PM, a female called 911 (Department of Public Safety Augusta Regional Communications Center) to report that 38-year-old Christopher Harriman of Limerick was making suicidal threats for the past hour and told them he was in a black Escalade at the Kennebunk rest area on the Maine Turnpike and he was armed with an AR style rifle. The female also told dispatchers that Mr. Harriman was threatening to cause harm to other subjects that she identified.  Maine State Troopers responded to the rest area, but Mr. Harriman was not there. The female provided additional location information on Mr. Harriman and law enforcement officers from Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Maine State Police responded to the area. Mr. Harriman led them on a slow speed pursuit and evaded law enforcement temporarily.  As he was failing to stop for law enforcement, he pointed the firearm out the window towards officers. He was located stopped in the Shop N’ Save parking lot in Old Orchard Beach. Law Enforcement tried to negotiate with Mr. Harriman and convince him to surrender as he stood outside his vehicle. Mr. Harriman then reached in his vehicle, grabbed his rifle, and chambered a round. He was then shot and killed by Trooper Ryan Phillips.    

Trooper Phillips has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard protocol when law enforcement officers are involved in the use of deadly force while the Office of the Attorney General investigates. Please direct all further inquiries to the Office of the Attorney General.