The Bread of Life family shelter on Hospital Street in Augusta in October 2021. The Maine Deadly Force Review Panel released a report Monday with new findings about the deadly shooting of Dustin Paradis Oct. 13, 2021 by two officers from the Augusta Police Department. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal file

AUGUSTA — The Maine Deadly Force Review Panel released a report Monday with new findings about the fatal shooting of Dustin Paradis, 34, by two officers from the Augusta Police Department in 2021.

The review panel recommended that officers should have ready access to less lethal munitions and body-worn cameras, and that the department should have emergency response plans in place for similar events at shelters. The report’s recommendations are based on the panel’s review of investigative data, interview recordings, cruiser camera recordings, surveillance footage, emergency communications and other materials.

Dustin Paradis, seen in a contributed photo, was shot and killed in October 2021 by two officers from the Augusta Police Department. The Maine Deadly Force Review Panel released a report Monday with new findings about the incident. Contributed photo

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Oct. 13, 2021, Sgt. Christopher Blodgett and Officer Sebastian Guptill responded to calls about a man with a knife at a Hospital Street Bread of Life shelter who had reportedly assaulted a resident and was cutting himself. At the scene, the report said the officers encountered two people who were aiding the injured resident outside the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Paradis was standing 10 to 12 feet away holding a large kitchen knife, taunting the officers to shoot him. Ignoring multiple commands to drop the knife, Paradis began cutting his throat, then charged at the two officers with the knife in his hand. Both officers fired their handguns at him, striking Paradis, who fell to the floor and died at the scene despite life-saving measures.

A minute and a half elapsed from the time the officers arrived to the time they shot Paradis, firing a total of 14 shots. Paradis died from multiple gunshot wounds.

The panel, comprised of individuals with law enforcement and public safety experience, reviewed the incident on June 27, 2024.

They observed that it was a continuing violent situation from before police arrival, and that the officers attempted to de-escalate. Paradis, with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and high-functioning autism, had a history of violent outbursts and prior interactions with police, leading to voluntary admission to the hospital for depression with suicidal ideation earlier that year.

The panel also observed that the officers were not equipped with Tasers, but that use of a Taser would not have been appropriative given the space constraints. The officers were not using body-worn cameras, which have since been deployed.

The panel made three recommendations: law enforcement agencies should partner with facilities like Bread of Life to train together and develop response plans for emergencies; officers should have ready access to less lethal munitions and body-worn cameras; and that each department involved in the incident should respond to the report in writing, detailing any questions, concerns or remedial actions taken.

Augusta Police Chief Kevin Lully was not immediately available for comment.