Corporal Eugene Cole was killed early Wednesday. Authorities are now looking for 29-year-old John Williams. (Somerset County Sheriff's Office)
Authorities in Maine launched a dragnet Wednesday after a man shot and killed a sheriff’s deputy, stole his cruiser and then robbed a convenience store, officials said.
Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said Corporal Eugene Cole was killed around 1:45 a.m. on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock, located about 30 miles north of the state capital of Augusta. Cole was one of two cops shot dead nationwide, with a Dallas police officer succumbing to his wounds Wednesday morning after being injured the day before.
"He was one of the finest deputies that you would want to meet," Lancaster said of Cole at a news conference.
Authorities said the suspect, 29-year-old John Williams, stole Cole's police cruiser after the shooting and drove it to a Cumberland Farms store, a 24-hour gas and convenience store, and robbed it. Lancaster did not not disclose any details about what happened before the deputy was shot, saying that authorities would release further details by Wednesday afternoon.
After fleeing the store, Williams abandoned the vehicle, which was found around 5 a.m., officials said. It is not known if Williams is in another vehicle or on foot.
Many times we're able to say that there is not an ongoing threat, but that's not the case today," State Police Lt. Col. John Cote said at a news conference. "There certainly is an ongoing public threat. He's considered armed and dangerous."
Williams is described as being 5-foot-6, 120 pounds and having blue eyes and brown hair in a ponytail, Lancaster said. Williams was previously arrested in Massachusetts on March 22 on firearms violations, according to a police report.
The FBI told WGME they are sending assistance to help the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and Maine State Police with the investigation.
Cole was a member of the sheriff's office for 13 years and had a son, according to Lancaster.