Attorney general finds use of deadly force justified in 2023 Cranston police shooting
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A report from the office of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has concluded that police officers were justified in using deadly force in the May 2023 shooting of murder suspect James Harrison.
Harrison allegedly shot and killed his neighbor Thomas May and shot and wounded May’s daughter on May 24, 2023 on Ligian Court in Johnston.
Upon arrival on the scene, police converged on Harrison’s home to find his mother, Janet Harrison, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Harrison was located several hours later by police at St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston.
Harrison attempted to evade police and a high-speed chase through Cranston ensued, ending with Harrison crashing his vehicle in the grassy area near the Board of Elections.
At this time, Harrison was surrounded by members of both the Cranston and Providence police departments and brandished a firearm, pointing it at officers.
Multiple officers then shot Harrison and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Rhode Island State Police Forensics Unit determined that 141 shots were fired at Harrison in the incident, and an autopsy report found Harrison to have a blood alcohol concentration of .062 percent.
The report’s conclusion reads:
Our review of the extensive investigation conducted by the Rhode Island State Police concludes that the use of deadly force by members of the Providence Police and Cranston Police Departments was reasonable and legally justified. This was an extremely dangerous stand-off with an armed, fleeing felon who had earlier in the day shot multiple individuals, killing two of them.
