Fatal Milford Police Shooting Ruled Justified: Worcester DA

MILFORD, MA — A Worcester County District Attorney's Office investigation into a fatal Milford police shooting last year has found the officer acted "reasonably and lawfully" when she opened fire on a 40-year-old town resident last spring.

Philip Castonguay was shot on April 5, 2020, near his home along Glines Avenue. Milford officer Jeanne VanPatten-Steiger shot him twice in the chest after she went to Castonguay's apartment to take him into custody for an involuntary commitment, according to the DA's report.

The incident began when VanPatten-Steiger and Sgt. Kara Maguire went to Castonguay's apartment in the afternoon after he threw a cement bird bath off his third-floor porch. The object land on his neighbor's car, according to the investigation.

VanPatten-Steiger went back to Glines Avenue around 8 p.m. after a report of another disturbance. A neighbor reported Castonguay threatened him while holding a metal pipe above his head. VanPatten-Steiger called for backup to take Castonguay to a mental health facility. According to the report, VanPatten-Steiger had previously been involved in committing Castonguay after a disturbance.

Before other officers could get to the scene, Castonguay came out of his apartment and approached VanPatten-Steiger holding something in his hand, which the officer thought might be a pistol grip, the report said. She shouted twice for Castonguay to "show me your hands," which a witness corroborated. When Castonguay didn't stop, she opened fire.

After the shooting, police found a metal pipe on the ground near where Castonguay fell. He was taken to Milford Regional Medical Center after the shooting, but was already dead by the time he arrived, the report said.

"In these circumstances, no charges are warranted, as Officer VanPatten-Steiger's use of deadly force was lawful," the DA's report concludes.