Stuart suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen following a hours-long standoff with state and local police.
LUDLOW - Retired Springfield police officer George W. Stuart, who suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot to the abdomen Wednesday night following an 8½-hour standoff with local and state police, continues to recuperate at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Springfield Police Officer Charles Youmans, a spokesman for Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said Tuesday that the 71-year-old Stuart was in fair condition.
A request made to police to check on the well-being of a resident at Stuart’s 795 Center St. home at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday was followed a few minutes later by a reported fire at that address. Those two incidents set the stage for an 8½-hour standoff between the armed and suicidal Stuart and police.
The fire began just two hours after Stuart was supposed to appear at an 8:30 a.m. hearing in Hampden Probate and Family Court in Springfield as part of his ongoing divorce.
Ludlow Police Chief James J. McGowan told The Republican Friday that charges are pending against Stuart. Ludlow police could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.
Fitchet and McGowan spent 7½ hours with Stuart in the woods behind his home in an effort to convince him to drop his weapon and go to a hospital.
McGowan said Friday that Stuart made it clear throughout the long ordeal that he did not intend to hurt any police officers.
“I was not in fear, I do not believe the commissioner was in fear,” McGowan said.
Fitchet suffered an injury to his hand when Stuart’s gun went off as he attempted to disarm him.