2 SHOTS - POLICE CROUCHING BEHIND CARS OUTSIDE HOUSE



TEAR GAS ON PORCH



COPS HIDING BEHIND POLICE CAR



POLICE CHIEF, WHO WAS SHOT KNEELING BESIDE CAR



2 SHOTS - POLICE RUNNING AROUND HOUSE



POLICE CHIEF LAYING NEXT TO PORCH ON GROUND SHOT



POLICEMEN CARRYING CHIEF ON STRETCHER



PRIEST RUNNING UP



CU -- CHIEF ON STRETCHER




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN THE QUIET MAINE VILLAGE OF LIMERICK (place - source) -- WHERE TRADITIONALLY "NOTHING EVER HAPPENS" -- A BANKRUPTED BUSINESSMAN SUDDENLY LOST HIS MIND YESTERDAY (date - source).

FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD GORDON HAMLIN (CQ) LIVED IN THIS MODEST FRAME HOUSE. "A GENTLE MAN," HIS NEIGHBOURS DESCRIBED HIM .... UNTIL TODAY (CQ). THEN FOR NO REASON HE CUT DOWN HIS WIFE WITH A SHOTGUN BLAST AS SHE RAN SCREAMING FROM HER HOME. POLICE AND STATE TROOPERS ARRIVED MINUTES LATER. HAMLIN MET THEM AT THE DOOR AND WOUNDED A TROOPER. AS THESE DRAMATIC FILMS FROM PORTLAND SHOW -- REINFORCEMENTS WERE CALLED UP AND HAMLIN STOOD THEM OFF FOR FIVE HOURS, FIRING OUT THE WINDOWS WITH HIS SHOTGUN OR A HUNTING RIFLE. HE SEEMED TO BE IMMUNE FROM TEAR GAS AND WHEN OFFICERS RUSHED THE HOUSE, HE KILLED ONE WITH HIS RIFLE AND WOUNDED ANOTHER.

FINALLY, THE FIRING STOPPED. POLICE ENTERED THE HOUSE AND FOUND HAMLIN...A SUICIDE.