Witnesses Contradict Worcester Police in Fatal Shooting: say Puerto Rican Man Posed No Threat to Officer

From [HERE] and [HERE] A 43-year-old Worcester man was shot and killed by a Massachusetts state police trooper after he allegedly drove a stolen vehicle toward the trooper early Thursday morning. Officials say Victor Davilla was shot to death near the intersection of Chandler and Irving Streets shortly after midnight. Police said an officer working the midnight shift from the Holden barracks spotted 1997 Honda Accord that was reported stolen in Worcester. When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, police said the vehicle continued to move toward him. Police said the officer fired one shot at the car, hitting Davilla in the chest. Police are still looking for a woman that jumped out of the car prior to the shooting. They believe they know her identity and have some information about the direction she fled in. She is not believed to be a threat to the public.

“The trooper was standing in front of the suspect vehicle,” State Police spokesperson David Procopio said. “And the evidence indicates that the vehicle definitely was in drive and possibly driving toward him, putting him in fear for his safety.” [MORE] 

However, two other witnesses said they saw the trooper standing in front of the car. They said the driver was trying to back up and drive away. They said the trooper yelled repeatedly for the man to stop and then fired into the vehicle when he did not comply. The men said that once the trooper opened the car door and pulled the man out, the car coasted forward into a small tree. [MORE]

Procopio said the findings of an accident reconstruction team, ballistic evidence, and the fact that Davila later crashed his car into a utility pole confirmed the trooper’s account. (Police message: believe everything we say always. why even bother to investigate or even ever have any trial then?) 

Witnesses said they heard one loud bang that prompted them to either look out a window or to go outside to see what had caused it. One man said he saw someone face-down in the road and the trooper standing by talking into his radio. The trooper apparently bent over to handcuff the man in the road, but then removed the handcuffs, the witness said.

Investigators are withholding the name of the officer involved, only saying he is a graduate of the most recent class of troopers who completed their State Police Academy training in March 2012. He has been placed on administrative leave for at least the next few days. Investigators will look at surveillance video from security cameras that were attached to nearby buildings and determine if the use of deadly force was justified. The trooper involved in the shooting here has been placed on administrative leave for at least the next few days.

Mr. Luis Carmona, a friend stopped by the shooting scene, hoping to get a clearer picture of what happened to Mr. Davila. Mr. Carmona said his sister called him at work yesterday morning to tell him the news.

“I think they strongly reacted. No one needs to get shot over a stolen car,” Mr. Carmona. “He's a rookie state police officer who is probably using his gun for the first time.”

Mr. Davila was not a violent man, Mr. Carmona said. He believes Mr. Davila was attempting to run from the car. According to Mr. Carmona, Mr. Davila's mother and siblings all live in Puerto Rico. Mr. Carmona said the mother was hospitalized after hearing the news.

Friends and family of one of Mr. Davila's daughters believe the woman who ran from the car holds answers to what happened. “We're trying to find out who this was,” friend Luis Carmona said. “We're hoping they find her because she could shed some light on what happened.”