Prosecutor: Police shoot vehicle to stop it, killing driver

FALL RIVER, Mass. – Massachusetts authorities say a police officer responding to a report of possible gunfire fired shots at a vehicle to stop it from leaving, killing the driver.

The Bristol County district attorney’s office says Fall River police saw several vehicles leaving the area after arriving at the scene Sunday night.

Authorities say the officer shot at a car to keep it from leaving. The 19-year-old driver, Larry Ruiz-Barreto, of New Bedford, was struck and died. He was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Several minutes later, police responded to a disturbance at the hospital and arrested five people on disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace charges. Police say the shooting and the hospital disturbance are connected.

The defendants were relatives of Barreto. They were arraigned Monday.