Independent investigation finds ‘no evidence’ crime was committed by officers in Anthony Harden’s death
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Friday an independent investigation into a fatal police-involved shooting last year in Fall River found that there was “no evidence that a crime was committed by the officers.”
District Attorney Thomas Quinn said that the investigation into the death of Anthony Harden focused on the use of deadly force.
“The uncontroverted evidence was that an officer was attacked by Anthony Harden with a knife. The officer’s partner was legally justified in using deadly force to save his life,” said Quinn.
Harden, 30, was shot and killed on Nov. 22 by an officer at his Melville Street home.
Officers responded to the home after receiving a call about a domestic incident that that happened two days prior. They said a woman, who claimed she was the 30-year-old’s girlfriend, told officers Harden had assaulted her.
She told police that Harden “choked her and struck her in [the] face with a stick.”
The officers, according to the report, documented the woman’s injuries.
Police then went to the Melville Street home, where they spoke with Harden. Shortly after, a fight broke out between Harden and the two officers. That’s when an officer fired his gun, authorities said.
The 30-year-old was taken to the hospital where he died.
“My sympathies continue to go out to Mr. Harden’s family for their loss,” Quinn said Friday.
The independent investigation was conducted by Massachusetts State Police and prosecutors at the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
