Police are believed to have shot a man wanted for a triple shooting on Ligian Court in Johnston.
Early Wednesday morning, Johnston Police secured the crime scene, just off Simmonsville …
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Police are believed to have shot a man wanted for a triple shooting on Ligian Court in Johnston.
Early Wednesday morning, Johnston Police secured the crime scene, just off Simmonsville Avenue. The suspect was still at-large.
Around 9:38 a.m., Johnston Police cruisers at the crime scene took off at a high rate of speed and converged with other departments and state police under the overpass on Plainfield Pike.
Witnesses working along Plainfield Pike reported hearing “more than 50 gunshots” after police shot and apprehended the suspect along Plainfield Pike, which is the border between Johnston and Cranston.
Multiple sources confirm one of the suspect's shooting victims is a local baseball coach.
Dan Chiovitti was watching the massive police presence gathered along Plainfield Pike, from a parking lot at the intersection with Simmonsville Avenue.
“I saw the smoke,” he said. “And then I heard a lot of gun shots — at least 50.”
Some early published reports said the suspect was transported to the hospital. Other reports have said the shooting was fatal. At press-time, law enforcement had yet to release any official information.
Rhode Island State Police at the Scituate barracks deferred inquiries to Cranston Police (Cranston officers were possibly first on scene for the apprehension). Cranston Police did not respond to requests for comment by press-time.
Johnston Police Chief Mark A. Vieira was expected to brief the media later in the day Wednesday.
Reports from the scene indicate the suspect lived across the street from two of his victims. Several sources, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed one of the victims is a local baseball coach.
Those same sources say a child shot at the initial crime scene possibly survived the shooting, although law enforcement has yet to confirm that or release the identities of the victim.
A credible source with ties to law enforcement confirmed the suspect is Ligian Court resident James Harrison. Sources also say Johnston Police responded to Ligian Court late Tuesday for reports of a possible “Peeping Tom.”
Early reports and multiple sources indicate one victim was living with Harrison, and the other two lived next door.
While the suspect was on-the-loose, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. said he was instructing Johnston Police to send extra law enforcement to local schools until the situation was resolved.
Police received a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert to watch for Harrison, who was possibly driving a dark blue Buick.
Some reports indicate the suspect was possibly hiding out at St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston.
Witnesses spotted a police chase on Atwood Avenue, which ultimately moved in the direction of Plainfield Pike. The police and the suspect met under the Route 295 overpass on Plainfield Pike, when shots rang out.
The Cranston Police Department Crime Scene Investigations van arrived on the scene around 10:30 a.m.
This story will be updated online as more details are released.
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