One suspect in custody after Fall River barber shop shooting

November 17, 2015 6:19 pm

By News Staff

Reporting by Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

The owner of a Fall River barber shop was rushed to the hospital Tuesday after he was shot by two men who had just robbed him.

Around 3 p.m., the victim and owner of the shop, 39-year-old Arthur Sousa, told police that two males entered the Davis Street shop, ordered him to the floor, and stole his gold chain and cash.

Sousa then chased the two men down the road, latching onto one suspect as he was trying to jump a fence. That’s when the suspect pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and shot Sousa in the leg before fleeing. Sousa then walked back toward the shop, telling people he was robbed and to call police.

"It’s two guys with guns that put him on the ground, on his stomach, and smashed his phone, robbed him of his chain and cash. They took off. Arthur decided to chase one of the guys," said Gregory Harding, a customer at the barber shop who also witnessed the robbery.

Harding would have been the next client at the barber shop, and missed the incident by minutes.

"I could have been at that shop at the time. It’s unbelievable," said Harding. "I talked to Arthur in the ambulance, he’s doing okay. He was crying. He was sad, but he is with his daughter."

Sousa was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

After an extensive search, police arrested 29-year-old Casey Tarushka in connection to the shooting. Tarushka is charged with armed robbery and firearms violations.