Suspect who fired at a New Bedford detective and at police on Blackmer Street found dead inside home, police say
Police Chief Jason Thody said no police officers, other public safety personnel or bystanders were hurt. The preliminary release did not name the suspect or say how the suspect died.
NEW BEDFORD Developing, 3:20 a.m., Nov. 12, 2026.
The suspect who fired at a New Bedford police detective and later at officers from a Blackmer Street residence Wednesday evening was found dead inside the residence, police said in a preliminary release early Thursday.
The New Bedford Police Department's release, sent to South Coast 360 by police spokesperson Holly Huntoon at 12:58 a.m. Thursday, said the incident is still under active investigation and that further information will be released by the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. The Massachusetts State Police and the district attorney's office took control of the investigation, police said.
Just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, a member of the department's Detective Division tried to stop a vehicle in the area of Potomska Street and South Front Street, and the vehicle at first did not stop for the detective, police said in the release. In the area of South First Street and Blackmer Street, the driver of the fleeing vehicle stopped and fired at the detective, and the detective returned fire, police said.
The vehicle then fled again and came to a stop at the intersection of Blackmer Street and South Second Street, where the suspect ran on foot into a residence on Blackmer Street, leaving a child in the vehicle, police said in the release.
More New Bedford police and Massachusetts State Police units responded and set up a perimeter while residents of the area were evacuated, police said. While officers held the perimeter and helped with the evacuations, the suspect fired more rounds at police from "the second and/or third floor of the residence," and a Massachusetts State Police trooper returned fire, according to the release.
Officers kept trying to communicate with the suspect and de-escalate the situation, police said, and the Massachusetts State Police, the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Tactical Team and negotiators were called in and came to the scene. A short time later, a single gunshot was heard from inside the residence, police said in the release.
After further attempts to make contact with the suspect were unsuccessful, the SEMLEC Tactical Team deployed a drone, and the suspect was found dead inside the residence, police said.
"This incident highlights the danger our officers can be faced with in just a split second," Police Chief Jason Thody said in the release. "There is no doubt that the bravery shown by the officers from New Bedford and across Southeastern Massachusetts saved lives this evening. While any loss of life is tragic, I am grateful that no police officers, other public safety personnel, or innocent bystanders were hurt during this incident. I want to commend every agency from New Bedford and beyond that showed up and displayed professionalism and courage under extraordinary circumstances. They are all heroes."
The preliminary release did not name the suspect, say how the suspect died or say whether the shots fired by the detective or the trooper struck anyone. It said nothing about the child's condition or the child's relationship to the suspect, and it did not say why the detective tried to stop the vehicle.
South Coast 360 first reported the police response on Blackmer Street Wednesday evening and the department's word early Thursday that officers were fired at and none were hurt. South Coast 360 has asked the Bristol County District Attorney's office for more information, and we will update this story when the district attorney's office releases more.
What we know
- Just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, a New Bedford detective tried to stop a vehicle near Potomska Street and South Front Street, and the vehicle at first did not stop, police said.
- Near South First Street and Blackmer Street, the driver stopped and fired at the detective, and the detective returned fire, police said.
- The vehicle stopped at Blackmer Street and South Second Street, and the suspect ran into a residence on Blackmer Street, leaving a child in the vehicle, police said.
- New Bedford and State Police units set up a perimeter and residents of the area were evacuated, police said.
- The suspect fired more rounds at police from an upper floor of the residence, and a State Police trooper returned fire, police said.
- State Police, the SEMLEC Tactical Team and negotiators came to the scene, and a single gunshot was later heard from inside, police said.
- The SEMLEC Tactical Team deployed a drone, and the suspect was found dead inside the residence, police said.
- Police Chief Jason Thody said no police officers, other public safety personnel or innocent bystanders were hurt.
- State Police and the Bristol County District Attorney's Office took control of the investigation, and the district attorney's office will release further information, police said.
What we do not know yet
Who the suspect was, how the suspect died, whether the shots fired by police struck anyone, how the child is and how the child is related to the suspect, and why the detective tried to stop the vehicle.
Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.
Notes
Every fact in this update comes from the New Bedford Police Department's preliminary press release on the Blackmer Street incident, emailed to South Coast 360 by public information officer Holly Huntoon at 12:58 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, and checked against it line by line. Police Chief Jason Thody's words are quoted as the release gives them. The release names no one, and neither does this story; it gives no house number and says nothing about the child beyond the child being left in the vehicle, and this story adds nothing to it. The release does not say how the suspect died, and this story does not guess. South Coast 360 has asked the Bristol County District Attorney's office for more information.
Corrections
No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.
Sources (3)
- New Bedford Police Department, preliminary press release on the Blackmer Street incidentPress release dated Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, emailed to South Coast 360 News by public information officer Holly Huntoon at 12:58 a.m. Nov. 12, 2026; includes the statement from Police Chief Jason Thody.
- South Coast 360, New Bedford police surround Blackmer Street building after officers report shots firedSouth Coast 360's first report on the scene, Nov. 11, 2026.
- South Coast 360, Officers fired at on Blackmer Street in New Bedford, no officers hurt, police saySouth Coast 360's update of 2:15 a.m. Nov. 12, 2026.