Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Death of man who died in standoff with Fall River police ruled a suicide, DA says
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who performed the man’s autopsy, indicated that his fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
The death of a man who died in an armed standoff with Fall River police in July has been ruled a suicide, according to prosecutors.
Domonick Knight, 38, of Fall River, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was later pronounced dead after exchanging gunfire with police in the early hours of July 15, the Bristol County District Attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who performed Knight’s autopsy, has now confirmed that his death was a suicide.
At about 1:30 that morning, officers arrived at 117 Langley St. in response to a call about a man inside the residence, later identified as Knight, who was armed with a firearm and “making statements of self-harm,” according to the DA’s office. Police evacuated the other residents and attempted to negotiate with Knight.
Advertisement:
About an hour later, a trained crisis negotiator arrived and tried without success to talk to Knight through phone calls, text messages, and a loudspeaker, police said in a statement. Further communication efforts from the department’s Emergency Services Unit also failed to “establish dialogue,” police said.
After nearly two hours of unsuccessful negotiation attempts, officers entered the home at about 3:15 a.m., the DA’s office said. They exchanged gunfire with Knight and found him on the second-floor landing with two guns nearby.
Knight had been shot and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, where he was pronounced dead, according to prosecutors. The department later released body cam footage — which contains graphic imagery — capturing the exchange of gunfire, along with photos showing Knight on the floor after being shot.
Advertisement:
A Massachusetts State Police investigation into the standoff revealed that Knight was first to fire a weapon, doing so at police shortly after they entered the residence. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also determined that Knight’s fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted, according to the DA’s office.
The investigation is ongoing in light of this information, though no further details are being rel at this time, prosecutors said.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com