By Steve Klamkin and Tessa Roy, WPRO News
Police confirmed 28-year-old DaShawn Cole died after being shot by Pawtucket Police following a confrontation early Friday morning on Newport Avenue at the corner of Slade Street. Cole had an undetermined number of gunshot wounds, and was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the shooting occurred at about 6:15 a.m. when officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun. The intersection remained closed more than six hours later, and traffic on busy Newport Avenue was detoured around the scene.
“Obviously this is a tragedy for both the officers involved and the family involved,” Goncalves said.
Goncalves said the shooting happened after Cole committed a felony assault with a firearm on an officer, but would not say whether Cole fired at officers. She declined to answer a number of questions from reporters, saying this was due to the ongoing nature of the investigation into the shooting.
“We are at the initial stages of the investigation and as things become clearer and we have more information, we will put it out to the press and to the public,” she said.
Goncalves said three officers were involved in the shooting, and all are now on administrative leave. She also said police were still working on establishing details about Cole and his background.
Investigators from the RI State Police and members of the Attorney General’s staff were on scene and continue to work with the Pawtucket Police, Goncalves said. The attorney general’s office investigates all cases of officer involved shootings.
