PHILLIPS, Maine (WGME) -- Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has ruled a deputy was justified when he shot and killed a man in Phillips in October 2024 after the man pointed a BB gun at him.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says multiple people called on October 29, 2024, and reported seeing a possibly suicidal man with a gun. One of the callers thought it was a BB gun.

Franklin County Deputy Jesse Clement responded and found the man, later identified as 61-year-old Lawrence Scott, on the side of a bridge on Salem Road in Phillips. Scott was holding what appeared to be a gun.

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According to Frey, Deputy Clement tried to talk Scott into getting some help, but he refused. The deputy told Scott to drop the weapon, but he refused.

In body camera footage, Deputy Clement can be heard saying, “Don’t do it.” Scott can be heard saying, “You better,” before pointing the gun at the deputy.

Deputy Clement fired one shot, hitting Scott in the torso.

According to Frey, when Deputy Clement approached the wounded man, Scott told him the gun wasn’t real and then thanked the deputy for killing him.

Scott died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the torso.

The gun turned out to be a BB gun that looked real, according to Frey.

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Scott’s blood-alcohol content was .17 at the time of the shooting.

Deputy Clement reasonably believed Scott was posing an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death when he shot him, according to Frey.

“Ultimately, Mr. Scott began walking towards Deputy Clement and raised his gun, pointing it at Deputy Clement. Deputy Clement reasonably believed he was acting in defense of himself at the time he used deadly force,” Frey said.

If you need help finding mental health resources, you can reach out to the NAMI Maine Helpline at 800-464-5767 and press #1. If you are in crisis, call 9-8-8.