November 5, 2009 Mass. state trooper shot, suspect killed in New Bedford Play video

(NECN: New Bedford, Mass.) - The Massachusetts State Police say a state trooper was shot by a suspect during the execution of a search warrant this morning in New Bedford.

The bullet was absorbed by the trooper's vest. Troopers returned fire, killing the suspect.

The incident began at 6 a.m. today, when members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations (STOP) Team went to 21 Shawmut Avenue in New Bedford to execute a warrant to search for illegal narcotics inside that residence.

Per the requirements of the warrant, the troopers knocked on the exterior door of the two-family home and verbally announced their presence, that they were police officers, and that they had a warrant. They then moved through that door and approached an interior door that led to the first floor apartment that was the subject of the warrant.

As the troopers approached the second door, multiple gunshots suddenly were fired through the wall next to the door at the troopers. As the troopers were breaching the door, one member of the entry team was struck in the torso by one of the shots fired from within the apartment. Fearing for the officers' safety, a trooper or troopers discharged their weapons. As a result of that discharge, a male occupant of the apartment was shot and suffered fatal injuries.

The suspect is not being identified at this time pending proper family notifications.

The search warrant that the STOP Team was serving had

been obtained yesterday from the New Bedford District Court by the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit. Massachusetts State Police employ the STOP Team, which is the department's tactical entry team, in execution of warrants when intelligence suggests that suspects inside targeted locations may be in possession of weapons.

*This is aerial video from the scene*