Warwick police shooting: Suspect accused of charging officers with knife identified

Amy Russo, The Providence Journal
·2 min read

WARWICK — The suspect who police say rushed at patrol officers with a knife in the lobby of the Warwick police headquarters has been identified as 29-year-old Jacob Thomas.

In a news release Monday, Police Chief Col. Bradford E. Connor said Thomas, who lives in Warwick, charged at officers twice on Friday afternoon.

The first time, he struck Officer Jessica Masso in the torso with the knife, her bulletproof vest preventing injury, Connor said. Officers then shot Thomas, "causing him to take several steps back," Connor said, before he charged at them again, prompting them to shoot again.

"The suspect then fell to the ground and ignored the officers’ repeated commands to drop the knife," Connor said. "The suspect attempted to get up and continued to point the knife at officers."

From the incident: Man, wielding a knife, shot in lobby at Warwick police headquarters

The Warwick Police Department after an officer-involved shooting in the station's lobby on Friday.
The Warwick Police Department after an officer-involved shooting in the station's lobby on Friday.

Police then used a taser on Thomas, at which point he dropped the knife. Thomas was given medical aid and brought to Rhode Island Hospital, where he is recovering. He is set to be charged with felony assault once he is released.

Masso, Officers Oliver Pinheiro and Michael Bailey, and Sgt. Walter Larson were "placed on a non-punitive administrative leave pending completion of an administrative review," as is standard under the department's use-of-force policy, Connor said.

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"We are extremely grateful that none of the brave men and women of the Warwick Police Department involved in this incident were seriously injured and grateful to the numerous members of law enforcement and the public who have expressed their support in the days following this unfortunate event," Connor added.

Warwick police, Rhode Island State Police and the Attorney General's Office are continuing to investigate.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Man who charged Warwick police with knife identified