Police investigate early morning shooting death

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. – Police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened early Sunday morning on King Street.

Police say they were dispatched to 4 King street at 1:40 A.M. for a report of a male who was shot.

Upon arrival, officers located a man identified as 20-year-old Mael Vasquez on the porch. Vasquez told officers that he had a gun and he had shot an intruder in the basement.

Vasquez told police that he shot the intruder in self-defense after the intruder assaulted him with a blunt object.

Police discovered 43-year-old Maurice Botelho of Central Falls unresponsive,  suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Vasquez was arrested by detectives for possession of a stolen firearm at the time of the shooting. Police say Vasquez will be charged solely with possession of the stolen firearm pending investigation.

Vasquez was arraigned Sunday before a justice of the peace and held on $25,000 surety bail.

Police will continue to investigate the shooting with a grand jury action being probable.

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