Man Shot, Killed By RI State Police Threatened To Kill Woman: Official

Woonsocket RI

28 April, 2022

12:32 PM

Description

WOONSOCKET, RI — Rhode Island State Police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed a Portsmouth man in Woonsocket they said had threatened to kill a Little Compton woman at gunpoint and injured several officers with his car while trying to flee. The shooting Wednesday afternoon resulted in the death of Russell DuFault, 58, State Police Col. James Manni said. It occurred on North Main Street near East School Street, police said. Manni said a woman came to the Lincoln barracks around 12:30 p.m. and said DuFault assaulted her and held her at gunpoint in the driveway of her Little Compton home that morning. State police said the woman told troopers the man threatened to kill her and tried to steal $80,000 from her. State police alerted the Violent Fugitive Task Force and issued a warrant for DuFault on felony assault and kidnapping charges. The task force is made up of 18 members of Rhode Island State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service. Manni said the task force found DuFault's car in Woonsocket and attempted to arrest him. State troopers immediately identified themselves and commanded several times for DuFault to get out of the car, Manni said. Instead, DuFault drove directly at the officers and struck a U.S. marshal, who ended up on the hood of the car, Manni said. He then struck a police cruiser and pinned a state trooper between two vehicles according to state police. Manni said police shot at and fatally wounded DuFault. Lifesaving measures were given, but DuFault was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital, police said. Manni said police found a gun on DuFault. Two state troopers were hospitalized with injuries following DuFault's escape attempt, police said. The officers were detectives Gregory DeMarco and Theodore Gibbons. U.S. Marshal Chief Deputy Robert Charette declined to identify the injured U.S. marshal but said federal authorities will do so at a later time. "He's banged up, but fortunately, he's going to be OK, and he'll be back," Charette said. Manni said DuFault knew the victim, as he was her sister's ex-boyfriend. DuFault had a history of armed robberies and was responsible for a bank robbery in Pawktucket on Monday, Manni said. "We are trying to determine why he was at that location [in Woonsocket]," Manni said. Manni said two officers will remain on administrative lead why the attorney general's office conducts its investigation. Both Manni and Attorney General Peter Neronha said more information will come as the investigation progresses. "As the colonel said, there are some facts that are known now," Neronha said. "But our prosecutors are still frankly gathering the facts. As of disclosing, as soon as we have them, we will."