Police ID Officer, Tiverton Man Involved In Wednesday Shooting

TIVERTON, RI — The police have identified the Tiverton man shot Wednesday night during a domestic incident, and the police officer involved. According to police Chief Patrick Jones, Tiverton resident Scott Banville, 44, was shot once in the arm and once in the chest after he allegedly pointed a rifle at the police. Lt. Scott Beaulieu, 39, an 18-year department veteran, fired his weapon and shot Banville whose wife was standing nearby and witnessed the scene.

The confrontation started after Banville's wife texted a relative to say her husband was fighting with her and had threatened her. Their two children, 6 and 8, were also in the home at 222 Pelletier Lane. At 11:25 p.m., the relative made a 911 call to Tiverton police. Several officers responded, Chief Jones said. Lt. Beaulieu was the shift commander. He was first to approach the house and reported he could see a suspect holding a large weapon.

The lieutenant told Banville to drop the weapon and repeated the order several times. But Banville turned the weapon to take aim at the police. He was shot. Wounded, he dropped the rifle.

Banville was conscious and alert, police said, when officers and then the medics attended to him. He was reported in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

State police and the state Attorney General's office are also investigating, which is standard with an officer-involved shooting, the chief said. Chief Jones believes the shooting was justifiable given the immediate danger Banville posed to his wife and to the police officers. But the Attorney General's office will make a determination after state police complete the investigation.

A search warrant was obtained for the house, and police seized the rifle.

Banville will be charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor Domestic disorderly conduct. Depending on his condition, he could be arraigned at the hospital later Thursday.

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