FALL RIVER, MA - Two police officers were injured, and a man with a history of violent shootings was fatally shot after an early-morning shooting on Linden Street.
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said 40-year-old Nigel Vaughn was fatally shot by police officers after a struggle in which he drew a modified automatic pistol and fired at police, hitting two of them, the Herald News reported.
Thankfully, the two officers survived. On the night of February 7, Fall River police responded to a call for reckless driving with a possible physical altercation on Linden Street at the Knight's Quality Service Station parking lot. The DA's office said police found Vaughn there in a dark-colored SUV with two other people. Police then told Vaughn to leave the parking lot.
Shortly after midnight on Sunday, February 8, Fall River police responded to 390 Linden Street for a report of a man with a gun in a vehicle outside that address. At the scene, police found Vaughn in a dark-colored SUV and pat-frisked him. "During that process, the suspect began to violently resist, which resulted in a physical struggle with the officers," the DA's office said. "During the physical struggle, the suspect produced a firearm."
While on the ground, Vaughn fired a weapon at officers, hitting one in the elbow and the other in the abdomen. Other officers on scene returned fire, striking Vaughn. The DA's office did not say how many times Vaughn was hit with gunfire.
After shots were fired, police provided medical aid to Vaughn, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Three police officers, the two who were shot and a third who shot Vaughn, were taken to a hospital for treatment. The two officers who were hit with gunfire suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All three officers have since been released from the hospital.
The DA's office said Vaughn's weapon was a Glock with an aftermarket modification that made it fully automatic, capable of firing multiple times with one squeeze of the trigger. Aerial photos of the scene show the area around 309 Linden Street cordoned off with multiple evidence markers on the street.
"Once again, this incident highlights the dangers police face in encounters with armed individuals. The suspect has a violent history, and the officers were just doing their job on a brutally cold night, trying to protect the community. Through the grace of God, all of the officers' lives were spared. I am grateful for their service and professionalism under the most difficult of circumstances," District Attorney Tom Quinn said.
Vaughn has a lengthy criminal record. In 2007, he was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in state prison after being convicted of three counts of armed assault to murder and mayhem, and a single count of unlawful possession of ammunition. At the time, he was described as a captain in the Mafioso street gang with a history of police interactions.
In that incident, Vaughn entered Larry's Sports Pub on April 12, 2005, and shot three people over a dispute in which Vaughn became enraged at the victims for knocking his sweatshirt off a barstool.
He was arrested two days after the shooting in Fall River and found to be in possession of more than $1,800 and nine baggies of cocaine. All three victims in the shooting incident survived, and two testified against him at trial. One of the victims was three months pregnant and lost her child after the shooting.
Along with the prison sentence, he received 10 years of probation in which he was to have no contact with known gang members, not be in the presence of a firearm, and have no contact with victims or witnesses in the case. He received credit for the two years he spent in jail pending trial.
He was also indicted in 2010 for a March 2005 shooting outside what was then the Regatta nightclub on Davol Street. In that incident, two men were shot and later recovered from their injuries. Vaughn faced two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of carrying an illegal firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
The investigation into the fatal shooting of Vaughn by police is ongoing and is being conducted by the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.
"We are deeply grateful that our officers can return home to their families tonight. Each day, they serve with dedication to protect our community. Incidents like this underscore the inherent risks of this profession and remind us how fortunate we are to be served by such courageous men and women. Fall River is proud to be protected by some of the finest police officers," Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado said.
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said 40-year-old Nigel Vaughn was fatally shot by police officers after a struggle in which he drew a modified automatic pistol and fired at police, hitting two of them, the Herald News reported.
Thankfully, the two officers survived. On the night of February 7, Fall River police responded to a call for reckless driving with a possible physical altercation on Linden Street at the Knight's Quality Service Station parking lot. The DA's office said police found Vaughn there in a dark-colored SUV with two other people. Police then told Vaughn to leave the parking lot.
Shortly after midnight on Sunday, February 8, Fall River police responded to 390 Linden Street for a report of a man with a gun in a vehicle outside that address. At the scene, police found Vaughn in a dark-colored SUV and pat-frisked him. "During that process, the suspect began to violently resist, which resulted in a physical struggle with the officers," the DA's office said. "During the physical struggle, the suspect produced a firearm."
While on the ground, Vaughn fired a weapon at officers, hitting one in the elbow and the other in the abdomen. Other officers on scene returned fire, striking Vaughn. The DA's office did not say how many times Vaughn was hit with gunfire.
After shots were fired, police provided medical aid to Vaughn, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Three police officers, the two who were shot and a third who shot Vaughn, were taken to a hospital for treatment. The two officers who were hit with gunfire suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All three officers have since been released from the hospital.
The DA's office said Vaughn's weapon was a Glock with an aftermarket modification that made it fully automatic, capable of firing multiple times with one squeeze of the trigger. Aerial photos of the scene show the area around 309 Linden Street cordoned off with multiple evidence markers on the street.
"Once again, this incident highlights the dangers police face in encounters with armed individuals. The suspect has a violent history, and the officers were just doing their job on a brutally cold night, trying to protect the community. Through the grace of God, all of the officers' lives were spared. I am grateful for their service and professionalism under the most difficult of circumstances," District Attorney Tom Quinn said.
Vaughn has a lengthy criminal record. In 2007, he was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in state prison after being convicted of three counts of armed assault to murder and mayhem, and a single count of unlawful possession of ammunition. At the time, he was described as a captain in the Mafioso street gang with a history of police interactions.
In that incident, Vaughn entered Larry's Sports Pub on April 12, 2005, and shot three people over a dispute in which Vaughn became enraged at the victims for knocking his sweatshirt off a barstool.
He was arrested two days after the shooting in Fall River and found to be in possession of more than $1,800 and nine baggies of cocaine. All three victims in the shooting incident survived, and two testified against him at trial. One of the victims was three months pregnant and lost her child after the shooting.
Along with the prison sentence, he received 10 years of probation in which he was to have no contact with known gang members, not be in the presence of a firearm, and have no contact with victims or witnesses in the case. He received credit for the two years he spent in jail pending trial.
He was also indicted in 2010 for a March 2005 shooting outside what was then the Regatta nightclub on Davol Street. In that incident, two men were shot and later recovered from their injuries. Vaughn faced two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of carrying an illegal firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
The investigation into the fatal shooting of Vaughn by police is ongoing and is being conducted by the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.
"We are deeply grateful that our officers can return home to their families tonight. Each day, they serve with dedication to protect our community. Incidents like this underscore the inherent risks of this profession and remind us how fortunate we are to be served by such courageous men and women. Fall River is proud to be protected by some of the finest police officers," Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado said.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments