OLD TOWN — Maine’s attorney general says it was reasonable for a state trooper to use deadly force in fatally shooting a man who had stabbed a girlfriend multiple times, killing her.

Police say 35-year-old April Haskell, who was 26 weeks pregnant, was fatally stabbed by boyfriend Christopher Ouellette in October. The 28-year-old Ouellette called police to report the stabbing and didn’t cooperate when they tried to find out about Haskell’s condition, barricaded himself inside and refused to surrender.

A report from Attorney General Janet Mills on Monday said Trooper Barry Meserve fired a shot from the parking lot when Ouellette appeared at a window. Ouellette died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Mills said Meserve reasonably believed it was necessary to use deadly force to try to save Haskell.


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