Posted Monday, July 23, 2018 7:18 pm

PITTSFIELD — A gun used in a shooting last week is believed to be a service weapon belonging to Pittsfield police Officer Miles Barber.

Barber, an 18-year veteran of the department, is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according to a statement released Monday by Police Chief Michael Wynn.

Officers on Wednesday found a female suffering from a gunshot wound in Barber's Cromwell Avenue home. District Attorney Paul Caccaviello said last week law enforcement officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.

On Monday, Caccaviello declined to specify the victim's age or provide an update regarding her medical condition. As of Thursday, officials said she was in critical but stable condition.

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She underwent emergency surgery at Berkshire Medical Center and was flown to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, according to Fred Lantz, a spokesman for Caccaviello.

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State law stipulates firearms must be locked when not in use so that they can't be used by "any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user."

Caccaviello declined to say whether he's considering criminal charges against the officer.

"All the circumstances are still being investigated," he said.

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Wynn said the department believes the .40 caliber Glock pistol belongs to the department and is issued to Barber. The Pittsfield Police Department worked with the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Firearms Identification Section to reach the determination.

Confirmation will come, the release said, pending conclusive ballistic testing by state police, which currently has custody of the weapon. The state police investigation is ongoing.

Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@berkshireeagle.com, @amandadrane on Twitter, and 413-496-6296.