A community is grieving after 38-year-old Domonick Knight, a former Newport resident and Rogers High School football standout, was shot and killed by police early Tuesday morning during a mental health crisis at his home in Fall River.
According to police, Knight’s family called 911 just after 1:30 a.m. to report that he was armed and threatening to harm himself. Officers arrived at the Langley Street duplex and began evacuating nearby residents. Family members continued to call, desperate for help.
A trained crisis negotiator tried for nearly an hour to reach Knight through phone calls, text messages, and a loudspeaker, but received no response. Police say that around 3:15 a.m., members of the Emergency Services Unit breached the front door after failed communication attempts and were met with gunfire from the top of the stairs. Officers returned fire, then deployed a flashbang to distract him.
Inside, they found Knight with a short-barreled rifle and a handgun. He had been shot in the head. Authorities have not confirmed whether he was struck by police gunfire, although the police fired a barrage of shots.
Knight was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Knight, a husband and father of four, was remembered by loved ones as a kind, funny, and humble man who had served in the military. His family says he called police for help — not harm — and are now raising funds for his funeral and to seek legal support.
“Domonick Cornwallace Knight deserved to be given a chance, a helping hand, and a caring environment,” said his daughter Nieema.
The incident is under investigation by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
*WARNINNG*
Fall River Police have released a very disturbing video of the incident
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