New Bedford teen's shooting death by police ruled "justified" - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

New Bedford teen's shooting death by police ruled "justified"

by James Swierzbin

JSwierzbin@abc6.com

The Bristol County District Attorney's office has finished its investigation into the death of a New Bedford teen, who was shot and killed by police, after the teen stabbed a New Bedford detective.

The shooting death of 15 year old Malcom Gracia has been ruled "justified" by the Bristol County District Attorney.

Gracia was walking with a friend on Cedar Street in New Bedford on the night of May 17th.

Police say that the area Gracia was in, is known as a hub for gang activity.

For that reason, a New Bedford detective, named Tyson Barnes decided to ask Gracia, what he was doing in the area.

After a brief encounter with Detective Barnes, Gracia pulled out a hunting knife, and stabbed the detective several times.

Gracia was Tazed and then shot three times, in an effort to stop him from harming Detective Barnes.

Even after that though, police say Gracia got up with the knife, and once again tried to attack  Detective Barnes.

At that point the other police officers who were with Barnes, shot Gracia another 3 times, killing him in the process.

The official report, which was released on Tuesday, paints a picture of a very disturbed young man, who had a death wish, to die the same way his father did, killed by the police.

Gracia even told a friend, who was interviewed for the report, that he had "Sold his soul to the Devil and was going to go out of this life in a way that made him famous."

Gracia was a runaway, who's parents both suffer from mental illness.

In April of this year, Gracia spent time in a mental health facility and was prescribed both anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication, which he had stopped taking 9 days before his death.

According to the report, Gracia had also reportedly tried to commit suicide several times.

During the attack on Detective Barnes, Gracia stabbed him in the chest, abdomen, and in the arm.

According to the report, the stab wound to the chest came within inches of hitting Detective Barnes' heart.