Nationwide search for man who shot and killed deputy, FBI involved

Hundreds of police officers remained in place Thursday in the ongoing search for the man wanted in the shooting death of a law enforcement officer.

Somerset County Sheriff’s Cpl. Eugene Cole was murdered Wednesday morning. “This was a senseless act against a committed public servant,” Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said.

Police say John Williams, 29, of Madison, shot and killed Cole in Norridgewock before stealing his cruiser and leaving the deputy’s body on the side of the road.

“I am asking John Williams personally: If you are listening to my words today, I implore you to turn yourself in,” Lancaster said.

Williams should be considered “extremely armed and extremely dangerous,” Lancaster said.

Officials said there were about 200 county, state and federal officers involved in the search. Investigators have followed up on several leads, but have been unsuccessful in locating Williams, who they believe is still in the area.

“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. “He’s considered armed and dangerous.”

Williams is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 120 pounds with blue eyes, brown hair and a beard. Officials said initial reports that Williams had a partially shaved head with a ponytail are erroneous.

A nationwide alert has been issued for Williams. The FBI is assisting with the search.

Dozens of officers converged on Bear Mountain Road in Fairfield Thursday morning. They remained there Thursday afternoon and officers blocked off the road.

Tactical teams surrounded a home on Jones Street in Madison where Williams reportedly lives with his girlfriend. Police used a battering ram to open the front door Wednesday night, but he wasn’t inside.

Residents near the police activity were eventually allowed back into their homes after hours of tense waiting.

Police and other first responders used checkpoints to inspect all vehicles that were coming and going in the Norridgewock area.

The Mill Stream School was closed Wednesday as a precaution, and other schools were placed on lock down. Schools planned to have class on Thursday, but stay in “lock in” mode.

Residents were asked to be aware of their surroundings and call 911 if they see Williams.

Officials said between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Wednesday, Williams shot Cole, then stole his fully-marked cruiser, drove to Cumberland Farms in Norridgewock and robbed the store.

Williams then fled the store in Cole’s cruiser, officials said.

The cruiser was found abandoned Martin Stream Road in Norridgewock just before 5 a.m.

Lancaster said Cole’s body was found along Route 2 in Norridgewock at 7:15 a.m.

Cole’s death is Maine’s first fatal law enforcement shooting since March 1989, when Maine State Police Detective Giles Landry died during an incident in Leeds.

Law enforcement officials said Williams has arrest records in Maine, Tennessee and Massachusetts.

In Tennessee, he faced drug and drug-related charges dating as far back as 2008 and was revived from an overdose at least once, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

A clerk at Haverhill District Court in Massachusetts confirmed that Williams was scheduled to be in that court Wednesday on charges stemming from a March 22 arrest on firearms charges after a crash on Interstate 495.

He was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, improper storage of the firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He was free on $10,000 bail.