FALL RIVER, MA (THECOUNT) — Nicholas Almeida, 25, and Elizabeth Almeida, 54, have been identified as the mother and son who were shot to death Friday night in Fall River, Massachusetts. Arlington Cole has been identified as the suspected shooter, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
Officials said Fall River police received a 911 call just after 8 p.m. reporting a double shooting at 431 Barnes Street. Responding officers arrived at the residence and located both victims suffering from gunshot wounds inside the home.
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The mother and son were transported to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead, authorities said. Officials have not released additional medical details.
Police also located the suspect at the scene with a firearm. Authorities say, Cole, 54, was in a dating relationship with Elizabeth Almeida at the time of the incident.
Cole was taken into custody at the scene and is being charged with two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, according to officials. Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
State police detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, along with the Fall River Police Department, are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Officials have not released details regarding what may have led up to the fatal encounter inside the Barnes Street residence.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the sequence of events that led to the double homicide. No information has been released regarding a possible motive.
Fall River is located in Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts, along the Taunton River, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The Barnes Street address where the shooting occurred is situated within a residential section of the city. Investigators have not said whether there were additional individuals inside the home at the time of the incident.
Law enforcement officials have not provided details about how long the suspect and Elizabeth Almeida had been in a relationship or whether police had responded to the residence previously. Authorities have also not released information regarding whether the firearm recovered at the scene is believed to be the weapon used in the shooting.
Investigators typically process scenes of fatal shootings by collecting physical evidence, documenting the scene, and conducting interviews with potential witnesses. Officials have not specified what evidence has been collected in this case, but confirmed that state police detectives are working alongside local officers as part of the standard investigative process in Bristol County homicide cases.
Authorities have not announced a court appearance date for Cole or whether he is being held without bail. Further information is expected to be released as the case moves through the investigative and charging process.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said no additional details would be released at this time as detectives continue to review evidence and establish a timeline of the events inside the Fall River home Friday night.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting thehotline.org, or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
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