In a dramatic encounter in Fall River, Massachusetts, police officers shot and killed a suspected gunman early Sunday after he allegedly opened fire on them with a fully automatic weapon, according to authorities. Two officers suffered injuries but are expected to recover.
The incident took place just after midnight outside a residence in Fall River, as described by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Nigel Vaughn from Fall River, became involved in the confrontation shortly after being questioned and released by officers investigating a complaint about reckless driving at a nearby gas station.
Body-worn camera footage reveals intense moments where officers struggled with Vaughn, who is suspected of injuring two police officers in separate gunfire incidents before being fatally shot. The officers were responding to a 911 call about an armed individual in a vehicle outside a home.
District Attorney Quinn provided details on the condition of the injured officers. One suffered a bullet wound to the elbow, while the other was hit in the abdomen but protected by his bulletproof vest. Fortunately, a third officer at the scene was unharmed.
Quinn remarked on the suspect’s history of violence, stating, “The officers were performing their duties on that brutally cold night to keep the community safe.” He acknowledged that their lives were spared through divine intervention.
The early morning confrontation began around 12:13 a.m. when three officers responded to the emergency call. Upon arriving, they found Vaughn seated in a dark-colored SUV. Given the nature of the call, the officers initiated a pat-down search.
“During the pat-down, the suspect began violently resisting,” according to a joint statement by District Attorney Quinn and the Fall River Police Department, which included footage from the officers’ body cameras.
In the struggle that ensued, Vaughn pulled out a firearm and opened fire, hitting one officer in the elbow and another in the abdomen. Both officers returned fire, mortally wounding the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Authorities recovered a Glock handgun with Vaughn, which had been modified with a device known as a “switch,” converting it to a fully automatic weapon. This modification allows the firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. The shooting’s motive is still under investigation.
Before this deadly encounter, officers had already interacted with Vaughn at the same gas station while investigating reports of a physical altercation and reckless driving. Vaughn was located in the lot with two others and later asked to leave.
Reflecting on the incident, Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado expressed relief, stating, “We are deeply grateful that our officers can return home to their families tonight. Each day, they serve with dedication to protect our community, and this incident highlights the inherent risks of their profession. We are fortunate to have such courageous individuals serving us.”