Officers surrounded a Rowe Avenue apartment building in Pawtucket around noon Monday after shots rang out while Rhode Island state constables were in the process of serving an eviction notice. By the time a Special Response Team made entry hours later, the person inside had already died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to turnto10.com, officers responded to 17 Rowe Ave. around noon for a report of shots fired, arriving to find state constables had been at the residence to serve the eviction notice. Police established a perimeter, the station reports, because of the severity of the situation and uncertainty about who was inside the apartment. The scene also drew coverage from WLNE-TV (ABC6), which likewise detailed the police response to the Pawtucket address.
Specialized Units Called In as Contact Attempts Fail
The department's Special Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, drone operators and detectives all responded to assist, per the same account from turnto10.com. Officers made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the person believed to be inside before deciding to send a drone into the apartment to assess the situation.
The drone confirmed that one individual was inside and appeared to have sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Patch. Members of the Special Response Team then entered the apartment to attempt to render aid, but Patch reports the individual had already succumbed to their injuries by the time officers reached them.
No Ongoing Threat, Police Say, as Investigation Continues
Police said they believe the incident was isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the community, the station notes. Crime Unit detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting as the case remains open.
