A police body camera video obtained by the Bangor Daily News/The County captures the moment when Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Campbell was shot in the shoulder during a Feb. 3 standoff in Portage Lake.
The Maine attorney general’s office provided the video from Campbell’s body camera late Thursday afternoon, in response to a Feb. 7 Freedom of Access Act request from the BDN.
While the shooting cannot be seen, the video is notable because Campbell can be heard describing the gunshot he allegedly suffered and urgently calling for medical attention. He was eventually treated at a local hospital for the injury and survived.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded on Feb. 3 to Portage Lake, where Steven Righini, 29, had barricaded himself inside his home at 20 Ranger St. with his infant daughter.
At one point during the hours-long standoff, Righini allegedly shot Campbell in the shoulder and Deputy Reid Clark returned fire, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said that night.
The 19-second video shows an officer’s hands on a steering wheel. A voice that is presumably Campbell’s swears and says, “He just hit me. Reid!”
There is a flurry of blurred movement and blackness. Gunshots are heard, and another voice yells, “Put down your weapon!” Campbell shouts “I’m down!”
The camera shows the cruiser door opening, then images are blurred. An unintelligible radio communication is heard, and then, amid sounds of heavy gunfire, this exchange:
Campbell: “Call an ambulance. Medic. He just hit me.”
Other officer: “Yes.”
Campbell: “In the shoulder.”
Then the video ends.
Police responded that day to what was at first a domestic violence call. The woman who called had escaped, but Righini and the child were inside the house.
The standoff continued for several hours with officers from the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, Border Patrol and Maine Warden Service surrounding the area.
Righini appeared to share videos and social media posts from inside the home, claiming he was protesting Maine’s gay rights and abortion laws. At one point he emerged from the home, allegedly shooting Campbell before retreating inside.
Later, Righini allegedly tried to flee, shot and wounded state police dog Preacher and pointed a gun at officers. He was shot and killed by police.
Preacher’s handler and partner was Sgt. Jonathan Russell. The dog was taken for emergency veterinary surgery but later died of the injuries. He was given a state police funeral and was also honored at the recent Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races.
