(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) Detectives who responded to Saturday's officer-involved shooting on Driftwood Road in Derry cordon off the scene shortly after arriving.

DERRY — An autopsy conducted Sunday on the body of Christopher Coppola, the 43-year-old Derry man killed Saturday during a confrontation with police near his Driftwood Road home, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, and that the manner of his death was homicide — which, according to authorities, is defined as the killing of one person by another.

Dispatches from the office of Attorney General John Formella state that Coppola, of 5 Driftwood Road, allegedly fired a shotgun at a neighbor living at 1 Driftwood Road shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, authorities said the confrontation between Coppola and police began shortly after officers arrived in response to 911 calls reporting a man firing a shotgun as he walked toward the 1 Driftwood Road residence.

Coppola’s 5 Driftwood Road address is also listed as the address of Coppola Insurance Agency, but it’s not known if he owned or operated the business or if a relative owns it.

Driftwood Road is part of a neighborhood that also includes Olde Coach and Greenwich roads. The area is off Bypass 28, just north of the intersection of Bypass 28 and Tsienneto (pronounced “chi-NEAT-oh”) Road.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) A detective speaks with two Derry police officers at the scene of Saturday's police-involved shooting in the area of Driftwood Road.

Authorities didn’t elaborate on the nature of the events that prompted police to shoot Coppola, saying those details are being examined as part of the investigation.

Initial information indicates three officers discharged weapons during the incident, according to authorities.

Officials said no law enforcement or private citizens were physically injured during the shooting incident, including the resident at whom Coppola reportedly fired the shotgun.

“Pursuant to protocol, the name of the officers involved in the incident are being withheld pending the conclusion of a formal interview,” according to the Formella statement.

“The initial responding officers did not have body cameras. Investigators will be reviewing whether cruiser cameras recorded any portion of the incident.”

–JEFFREY HASTINGS