FALL RIVER, Mass. — Authorities have confirmed the identity of the victim in a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in Fall River. The deceased has been identified as Nigel Vaughn, 40, a resident of the city.
According to a joint statement from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the Fall River Police Department, the incident took place shortly after midnight on the 300 block of Linden Street following a report of an armed man sitting in a vehicle outside a residence. Three officers arrived on scene and made contact with Vaughn, who resisted a search, leading to a physical struggle.
During the altercation, Vaughn discharged a firearm, striking one officer in the elbow and hitting another officer’s bulletproof vest in the abdomen area. Officers returned fire, wounding Vaughn. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures at the scene before he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities confirmed that the firearm recovered from Vaughn had been modified to operate in a manner similar to a fully automatic weapon. Both injured officers were treated and later released from the hospital.
The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, is conducting a full investigation. Body camera footage from the incident has not yet been made public.
