Crime & Safety

Body Camera Footage Released Following Cranston Officer-Involved Shooting

The Cranston police body camera footage shows Officer Kayleigh Cooper shoot at a car with two shoplifting suspects in it attempting to flee.

Michael Campagna, 24, of South Boston, Massachusetts, and Megan O'Brien, 24, of Lynn, MA, were arrested at the JFK train station​ in Dorchester, MA.
Michael Campagna, 24, of South Boston, Massachusetts, and Megan O'Brien, 24, of Lynn, MA, were arrested at the JFK train station​ in Dorchester, MA. (Rhode Island State Police)

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston police released body camera footage Friday from a police officer who shot at a car when attempting to apprehend two shoplifting suspects.

In the video, which police released to NBC 10, Officer Kayleigh Cooper is shown Sunday telling two people suspected of shoplifting at Lululemon to turn off and get out of their car.

The driver, who police identified as Michael Campagna, 24, of South Boston, Massachusetts, asked what the stop was for, and neither he nor the passenger, Megan O'Brien, 24, of Lynn, MA, followed the officer's commands, the video showed.

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"What are you doing? What is this about," Campagna was seen asking the officer in the video. "Mam, get away from my car."

Then, Campagna drove away, and Cooper fired her gun once at his car as he fled, the video showed. According to Cranston police, Cooper, a three-year veteran of the department, shot at the car in response to Campagna running over her foot. The video does not clearly show the officer's foot being run over.

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Although police released video of the incident, an explanation of what was depicted in the footage was not provided. The incident happened at a red light on Reservoir Avenue, near the on-ramp to Route 10.

Police said Cooper was treated at the hospital and was released Sunday.

Rhode Island State Police said Campagna and O'Brien were arrested Tuesday at the JFK train station in Dorchester, MA.

Campagna was charged with felony assault and/or battery, assault on a police officer, reckless driving/eluding an officer, obstruction of an officer in the execution of duty, resisting arrest, and conspiracy. O'Brien was charged with felony assault and/or battery, assault on a police officer, aiding and abetting (assault on a police officer), aiding and abetting (reckless driving/eluding), and conspiracy.

O'Brien was also arrested on a felony shoplifting warrant, while Campagna was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting.

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