FALL RIVER, MA — Two police officers were wounded and a suspect was killed in an officer-involved shooting early Sunday on Linden Street.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:13 a.m. when Fall River police responded to Linden Street following a 911 call reporting a Black male with a firearm in a vehicle outside the address.
Officers encountered the suspect, identified as Nigel Vaughn, 40, of Fall River, outside the address in a dark-colored SUV.
Due to the nature of the call, officers performed a pat frisk of the suspect.
During that process, Vaughn began to violently resist, resulting in a physical struggle with the officers.
During the struggle, Vaughn produced a firearm.
While on the ground, Vaughn began firing at police, striking one officer in the elbow and a second officer in the abdomen, hitting his bullet-resistant vest.
A third officer was also on scene.
Officers returned fire, striking Vaughn.
Officers rendered aid to Vaughn, and a Glock firearm with an aftermarket modification known as a switch was located next to him.
The switch made the weapon fully automatic, capable of firing multiple rounds with one trigger pull.
Vaughn was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival.
The two injured officers and the third officer who returned fire were all transported for treatment.
The injuries to the officers were non-life threatening, and all three officers have been discharged.
Fall River police had interacted with Vaughn a short time prior to the shooting just before midnight, also on Linden Street at Knight’s Gas Station.
Police responded to a call reporting reckless driving in the parking lot along with a possible physical altercation.
When police arrived, they located Vaughn in the gas station lot in a dark-colored SUV along with two other individuals.
After a brief interaction, Vaughn was told to leave the private lot.
The investigation is active and ongoing and is being conducted by the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
