7 Officers on Leave After Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Norwich

The State Police Major Crime squad is investigating a police-involved shooting in Norwich on Sunday evening that left a 52-year-old Norwich man dead and seven police officers have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.

Police said they received a call about a man with a gun in a park at Lauren Hill Avenue and Center Street just after 7 p.m. on Sunday. When officers asked for more information, the caller hung up, according to a news release from police.

Police said the man was despondent. When officers tried to get the man to cooperate with them, he refused, said he had a gun and pointed it at officers, police said.

Officers opened fire in self-defense, according to investigators.

The man, identified as Michael Dugas, of Laurel Hill Avenue, was shot several times and taken to W. Backus Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police released the names of the officers on leave and identified them as  Officer Mark Dean,
Officer Kyle Besse, Officer Greg McDonald, Officer Scott Meikle, Officer Anthony Marceau, Officer Richard Cannata and Officer Chase Chiangi.

Witnesses told NBC Connecticut that police shot Dugas about 10 to 15 times.

"Cops surrounded him for like 5 minutes, told him to get his hands out of his pocket. They shot him about 10-15 times," Mike Foley, of Norwich, said.

The New London County State's Attorney's Office is also investigating.

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