Norton Bank Robbery Suspect Shot Himself in State Police Standoff

NORTON — The man who shot himself after being involved in a standoff with state police on I-495 for around two hours on Tuesday was the suspect in an attempted Norton bank robbery earlier this week.

Norton police said the suspect, who is not being identified, is also thought to have robbed banks in Eason and in Lincoln, Rhode Island in June.

According to police, at 4:53 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to Bluestone Bank at on West Main Street for a reported attempted robbery.

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Although the bank had already closed, employees were still inside, and reported that a man dressed all in black and wearing a black face mask and ballistic vest tried to open the front door.

The door was locked at the time, police said.

Employees told police that the man aggressively pulled on the door before fleeing without being able to enter.

Police said officers and detectives searched the area but were unable to find the suspect, eventually getting assistance from Easton and state police as well as FBI.

His vehicle, a dark colored BMW with a stolen Connecticut registration plate, was spotted in surveillance footage from the bank and nearby homes.

A description of the suspect and his vehicle was sent out to area police, with scanner reports at the time noting that he was thought to have a firearm and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Massachusetts state police saw the suspect vehicle on Route 495 in Andover on Tuesday evening.

After troopers stopped the car, the suspect engaged in a standoff with police for around two hours before injuring himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, police said.