Officer shot in camp incident Discharge of gun in Millinocket called an accident

A Windham police officer was in a Bangor hospital Sunday after what investigators believe was an accidental shooting at a family camp in Millinocket.

Maine State Police detectives were investigating the incident, which occurred late Friday evening.

Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, said Sunday that Matthew Cyr, 36, was visiting with relatives at a family camp on Millinocket Lake when the shooting occurred.

According to McCausland, Cyr was inside a tent with a 15-year-old nephew and had his .357-caliber weapon with him.

“The gun went off and he was shot in the right leg,” McCausland said. “His relatives took him by boat to a boat landing, where they were met by an ambulance.

He was then taken to a Millinocket hospital and later transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center where he underwent surgery.”

Cyr was listed in good condition Sunday night.

“At this point, we are looking at this as an accidental shooting,” he said. “Six detectives were at the scene and have interviewed a dozen people, but we really need to get Cyr’s side of the story. At this point, it appears that he may have accidentally shot himself. We hope to interview him when his condition improves.”

According to the Windham Police Department’s Web site, Cyr is a Millinocket native who has been with the department since 1995.