The Latest: Injured state trooper scheduled for surgery

AUBURN, Mass. – The Latest on a police officer that was shot and killed in a Massachusetts town (all times local):

9:00 p.m.

The state trooper who was shot by the man who authorities say killed a Massachusetts police officer is scheduled to undergo surgery.

State police say the trooper suffered a gunshot wound to his left shoulder Sunday evening during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. He was being prepped for surgery Sunday night.

The trooper is an 18-year veteran of the state police, where his duties include assignment to the department’s Special Tactical Operations Team. He’s a former U.S. Navy Seal. His name wasn’t immediately released.

The suspect, 35-year-old Jorge Zambrano, was killed during the shootout with law enforcement officials at an apartment building in Oxford, about 7 miles south of Auburn.

The manhunt began after Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was fatally shot during a traffic stop early Sunday morning.

___

8:25 p.m.

Officials in Massachusetts are assuring residents they are safe following a statewide manhunt for the suspect in the fatal shooting of a police officer.

Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis said in a news conference Sunday evening that any threat was over.

The suspect, 35-year-old Jorge Zambrano, was killed during an exchange of gunfire with police at an apartment building in Oxford, about 7 miles south of Auburn. A state trooper also was injured. He’s expected to survive.

Authorities say they found a vehicle that Zambrano had been driving parked in the back of the building. They were searching an apartment when a bedroom closet door burst open and Zambrano opened fire.

The manhunt began after Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was fatally shot during a traffic stop about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

___

7:55 p.m.

Authorities have identified the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Massachusetts police officer as 35-year-old Jorge Zambrano.

They say Zambrano was killed Sunday evening during a shootout with police at an Oxford apartment building. A state trooper also was injured during the exchange of gunfire. The 18-year veteran of the state police and former Navy Seal is expected to survive. His name was not immediately released.

Authorities say they were searching an apartment when a closet door in a bedroom burst open and Zambrano opened fire.

The manhunt began after Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was fatally shot during a traffic stop about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

The 42-year-old Tarentino leaves behind a wife and three children.

___

7:10 p.m.

Massachusetts authorities say the suspect in the fatal shooting of an Auburn police officer has been shot in an exchange of gunfire and has died.

Authorities say at a news conference Sunday evening that a Massachusetts State trooper also was injured in the exchange with the suspect and he was taken to a hospital.

The trooper’s name wasn’t released.

A manhunt began after Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was fatally shot during a traffic stop about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis assured the central Massachusetts community that they are safe and any threat to area residents is over.

___

3:30 p.m.

Neighbours of a Massachusetts police officer who was fatally shot during a traffic stop are mourning his death.

Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was shot around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Residents in Tarentino’s Leicester neighbourhood remember him as a pleasant family man.

Phillip Stanikmas told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette that Tarentino kept an eye out for his 91-year-old mother when she was home alone. Stanikmas said he was “distraught” when Tarentino left the Leicester Police Department two years ago to join Auburn because he was a “great guy.”

Next-door neighbour Vin Dagostino called Tarentino a “super nice guy with a super nice family.”

The 42-year-old Tarentino leaves behind a wife and three children.

Police are still searching for a suspect.

___

This story has been corrected to show Tarentino had been with the Auburn police for two years, not three.

___

12:20 p.m.

Authorities say a police officer has died hours after being shot during a traffic stop in a central Massachusetts town, and a suspect is on the loose.

Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis says Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was shot and killed early Sunday.

Sluckis said the 42-year-old Tarentino was shot at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in Auburn, about 45 miles southwest of Boston.

The officer was transported to UMass Medical Center where he later died.

The shooting is under investigation.