NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – A former deputy fire chief in New Bedford, Massachusetts, was shot and killed by police outside a bar in Fairhaven, according to local officials. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn confirmed that Paul Coderre, the former interim fire chief, died in an officer-involved shooting.
The incident occurred when police responded to a call about an intoxicated man at around 4:30 p.m. Coderre, 55, drew a weapon, resulting in an exchange of gunfire with police. An officer from the Acushnet Police Department was hit in the leg by a bullet during the confrontation but was later treated and released from the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Quinn stated that Coderre had been drinking and was involved in an altercation inside the bar before the shooting. Police were called when Coderre was seen attempting to get into a vehicle. Despite several attempts to de-escalate the situation, including the use of a Taser, Coderre fired his weapon, prompting police to return fire, resulting in his death.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate the case. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell expressed his grief over the shooting in a social media post, emphasizing that the incident was tragic in every sense. He added that he was relieved the injured officer would make a full recovery and that no one else was seriously hurt.