Millis schools closed as hunt for shooting suspect continues

MILLIS, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) - Schools were closed Thursday morning as police continued the hunt for a suspect who fired shots at a police cruiser.

Mass. State Police responded to Millis after shots were fired at a cruiser Wednesday.

State police were on scene after a cruiser was struck just before 3 p.m. They later tweeted saying that their Air Wing responded as well along with detectives and ballistic units.

SkyFOX flew over the scene on Forest Road where police say an officer was checking on a disabled vehicle when he was shot at 3 times. The officer fired back, then crashed when he attempted to follow the vehicle. The cruiser then caught on fire.

Police say the suspect is a white man who is about 25 to 40 years old and driving a dark colored, possibly maroon, pickup. They believe he was the only person in the truck. Authorities asked residents to stay in their homes as they launched a massive search for the man, even students were told to seek shelter.

"The superintendent came over told us to go back to the school that that's the safest place to go right now," one student said.

As of Thursday morning, the suspect was still at large and police believe he left the area.

The officer was treated and released from the hospital.

The Millis Public Library was closed Wednesday as a result of the shooting and Millis schools were closed Thursday. Police say a threat made to the town's middle school earlier in the day does not appear to be related to the shoot out. Someone called the school saying a crime would occur in their town that day, then an hour later, a bomb threat was called in but police did not find any devices in the area.

Cox Media Group