Man Who Died in Shoot Out with Binghamton Police Identified

10/29/2012 (Updated 11:08:24 PM)

Binghamton police have identified the suspect who was fatally shot by officers on Front Street Sunday after they say he opened fire.

911 Dispatch: "....we have two officers shot and a suspect shot.  We need paramedics now at 65 front street. "

The scene unfolded at 2:15 am Sunday behind the Days Inn on Front Street.  Officers fatally shot 40 year old Michael Eugene Spohn  after officials say he shot at two police sargents,  Larry Hendrickson, and Craig Follet swho sustained superficial wounds.  Officers responded to calls that a shot was fired nearby and that Spohn was harassing hotel staff.  He had a blood alcohol level of .26.

"Who knows, maybe this guy intended to happen what happened.  because you don't go to a gun fight with police with just three bullets," said Binghamton's  police chief

Spohn moved from Oklahoma to work as a welder in the gas industry. Police Chief Joseph Zikuski says  they are concerned as more people move to the area for fracking.

"We know a lot of them are here from Oklahoma, Texas--they have a different mentality than people here.  A lot of them carry firearms.  so we hope...we know from the Pennsylvania authorities they're having a lot of problems with them, just south of the border,"  said Zikuski.

Officers say the sargents have been treated and released. They do not know at this time if they will try to figure out who fired the fatal shots,  and don't know if such a determination would be possible.
in Binghamton, Smantha McDonald, Fox 40 News.