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Widow of Man Shot by Police Planning to Sue

PORTLAND, Maine - The widow of a man who was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy in Windham is planning to sue for $2 million. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Department has responded to a "Notice of Claim" filed on behalf of Vicki McKenney.

"It is grossly inaccurate, both in terms of facts that are misstated, facts that are taken out of context, and, most importantly, facts that are omitted," says the attorney for Cumberland County, Peter Marchesi.

Marchesi says the Notice of Claim - which is usually a precursor to a lawsuit - fails to mention that 66-year-old Stephen McKenney had a loaded weapon, which he allegedly "aimed at an officer."

The case stems from an incident back in April where Vicki McKenney called authorities to say that her husband had a gun and was suicidal. Mrs. McKenney's attorney, Daniel G. Lilley, says his client was trying to seek help for her husband.

"It was an execution, rather than somebody coming to help her with her with husband," Lilley says. "She saw the whole thing, she was horrified."

Lilley maintains that McKenney never aimed his weapon at police, and that the officers involved, including 25-year-old Nicholas Mangino, who shot McKenney through the head, had been inadequately trained to respond to such crises. Mangino was cleared of wrongdoing by the Maine Attorney General's Office.

The Notice of Claim names the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Nicholas Mangino, and the Windham Police Department as parties in a forthcoming $2 million lawsuit.