“Watch the news,” said a man just before throwing BMW at the police station

A 58-year-old man, identified as Robert McCluskey, intentionally drove a BMW X5 into the lobby of the Shrewsbury police station in Massachusetts (USA). The attack took place on Monday afternoon (19) and caused severe structural damage to the building. The vehicle violently broke through the glass doors, crossed the reception and only stopped when it collided with the call center, where three employees worked. Despite the severity of the impact, there were no injuries.

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“It’s going to be spectacular”

Court documents reveal that the action was premeditated. Before the crime, McCluskey warned people close to them to “watch the news”, promising that the event would be “spectacular”. To the police, he confessed that his intention was to commit “suicide by policeman”, provoking a lethal reaction from the authorities to “end everything”.

Ironically, a 911 call alerting that McCluskey was on his way to the police station was received by authorities moments after the collision.

The driver’s defiant posture changed drastically after the accident. Upon being pulled from the SUV’s hardware, McCluskey asked rescuers for help and repeated apologies. The agents who attended the occurrence reported that he exuded a strong odor of alcohol at the time of arrest.

Due to the nature of the attack, he faces heavy charges in the American courts:

• Intentional damage: destruction of property valued at more than US$ 1,200 (approx. R$ 6,900);
• Dangerous driving: reckless driving of a motor vehicle;
• Assault with a dangerous weapon: four counts, characterizing the car as a weapon against the employees and the police officer present.

Greater tragedy avoided by minutes

The incident shocked the local community not only because of the violence, but because of the potential risk. Just 30 minutes before the invasion, a police training had been held in the outdoor area, exactly in front of the complex. The dispatch center, the end point of BMW’s trajectory, is the operational heart of the unit.

McCluskey’s record has aggravated his legal situation. He already had a previous conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and was subject to an active restraining order, requested by the mother of his children.

The driver remains in detention while the process progresses. The Shrewsbury police station underwent emergency repairs to ensure perimeter security and reactivate the destroyed lobby.