State troopers open fire on retired officer in Avon

AVON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – A 48-year-old retired police officer was shot by state troopers after he reportedly charged at their cruiser in a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot in Avon on Wednesday night.

Gene Guilbault was arraigned on assault charges in Stoughton District Court on Thursday. He is being held for dangerousness hearing scheduled for Jan. 30.

Guilbault's defense attorney, Jacqueline Modiste, said her client has a history of mental illness and takes medication. She claimed Guilbault has PTSD related to his work as a police officer, including a call where "a child died in his arms."

Modiste added that Guilbault has 43 registered guns and no prior convictions.

According to police, Guilbault's wife came home and found her husband in a closet with a shotgun threatening suicide. Guilbault agreed with meet with his brother Charles, an active Avon patrolman, at the Dunkin' Donuts on Page Street around 11 p.m.

Guilbault's brother called state police who responded to the Dunkin' Donuts; however, Guilbault got mad and attempted to flee nearly hitting the troopers in the process.

Two troopers opened fire striking Guilbault in the leg.

According to Modiste, Guilbault lost control of the car when he was shot and hit the cruiser.

Guilbault was taken to the hospital for treatment and has since been released. He is limping from the gunshot wound.

A truck driver who was sleeping in the parking lot at the time told FOX 25 that the bullets went through the wall of his truck and landed right next to his head.

Avon's police chief said Guilbault served as a patrolman from 1993 to 2006.

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