Two men allegedly involved in an armed home invasion, including one who was shot by a Lowell police officer, may have been impersonating police officers when they broke into a Pine Hill Street residence Saturday night, according to a statement released Sunday.
Investigators allegedly found phony police badges and handcuffs while searching for evidence at 29 Pine Hill St., where Lowell police said they received a report of a home invasion around 8:17 p.m. Saturday.
At the residence, police said, Timothy Berry, 48, of Haverhill, pointed a loaded .45 caliber, semiautomatic firearm at the first officer to arrive. Berry was shot twice and is being treated at a Boston hospital for gunshot wounds. His injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
Police said Berry was conscious and alert immediately after the shooting.
He faces charges of armed home invasion and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, police said.
The officer who fired at him was not identified and has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, police said. The officer was not injured.
Also arrested in the home invasion was Christopher Covey, 46, of Groveland, police said. He was initially taken to Lowell General Hospital for injuries he sustained while trying to flee the residence.
Covey has been charged with armed home invasion.
Police said additional charges may be brought against Berry and Covey, whom they described as having “lengthy criminal records.’’
Investigators executed a search warrant at the residence and found “a large amount of marijuana and cash,’’ according to police, who said a preliminary investigation indicated that the victims of the home invasion were targeted.
Authorities did not announce any charges against the people in the home.
State Police assigned to the Middlesex district attorney’s office are also investigating the crime. A spokeswoman for the DA’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
Globe correspondent Nicole Fleming contributed to this report. Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauracrimaldi.
