Two Months After Sheriff Shot Himself at State Police Range, GoLocal Secures Report
Monday, February 13, 2023
On December 13, GoLocal learned from multiple sources that a Rhode Island Sheriff had shot himself at the Rhode Island State Police shooting range.
The incident severely injured one of the sheriff's legs, and according to the report, the bullet nearly hit another sheriff.
The incident took place in the late afternoon on the 13th, and no Rhode Island State Police personnel were onsite during the incident.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGoLocal repeatedly requested the incident report, and this past week, the State Police released the report with limited redactions. GoLocal had filed two Access to Public Records Act requests. The first was rejected because the State Police said the investigation was not complete.
The name of the sheriff who fired the shot was redacted by the State Police, but GoLocal has learned it was Francisco Sanchez. He is 53 years old.
The self-inflicted shooting caused significant injury to his leg.
Shot Severely Injured Leg and "Brushed by His Chin."
According to the report, “Prior to the Division of Sheriffs conducting their annual low light qualification, all members attended a safety brief conducted by Range Instructors, Deputy Edward Zarra, Deputy Scott Alexander, and Sergeant Jason Colbert. During this briefing, Deputy Zarra emphasized that due to cold conditions and wearing additional layers to include gloves to be aware of your surrounding when re-holstering. At the time of the incident, Deputy REDACTED was a pullover fleece sweatshirt style shirt, and BDU pants, and not wearing gloves.”
The report states, “Once all members cleared the Rhode Island State Police Firearms trailer, they moved to the range. The group was divided into two (2) squads. Squad one (1) was aligned in front of lanes 1-5, leaving lane 6 vacant and Squad two (2) was aligned in front of lanes 7-12, Deputy REDACTED was in lane #8. Sergeant Colbert monitored the second squad from the rear while the officers made their firearms ready.”
At approximately 3:45 PM, officers began their first volley for their qualification, and shooters were ordered to holster their weapons when complete. As Sergeant Colbert was making his way down the firing line to make sure all shooters were completed, he heard an immediate, 'pop' and something brush by his chin. At that point, Sergeant Colbert heard Deputy REDACTED yell, 'wait a minute.' Sergeant Colbert observed Deputy REDACTED still holding his firearm in the holster and observed a black residue on his right pant hip area and the bottom of his holster. Sergeant Colbert immediately moved in, took control of Deputy REDACTED firearm, verified it was clear, and secured the magazine in his right pants pocket. Sergeant Colbert then asked Deputy REDACTED if he was ok, which he responded he wasn't sure.”
Major Crimes Unit
Sergeant Colbert examined the right lower hip area of the Deputy and found a significant injury. GoLocal is not publishing the complete description of the injury.
“At that time, Sergeant Colbert observed a missing chunk of flesh with visible no blood discharge. As he continued to cut Deputy pants higher, he observed a second area with a chunk of flesh missing but the wound did not have any visible blood discharge. Sergeant Colbert requested a Trauma Bandage and Gauze to protect the wound and to control the bleeding if needed. Deputy Ferrigno assisted in applying pressure on the wound while Lieutenant Alfred Barra contacted E-911 requesting a rescue for a training incident. Deputy Joseph Gonsalves responded to the main gate to the State Police Training Academy to escort Foster EMS to the scene,” according to the report.
And the report states, “At 3:58 PM, Sergeant Raymond Peters of the Foster Police Department arrived on scene and Sergeant Colbert secured Deputy firearm, holster and the collected bullet fragments into a property bag for evidence. At 4:13 PM, Foster EMS cleared the range and Lieutenant Barra followed the rescue to Rhode Island Hospital Emergency Room. At that time, Sergeant Colbert received a call from Major Martelli advising that Major Kenneth Buonaiuto was en route to the scene along with Rhode Island State Police Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit (MCU).”
Over the next week, the Rhode Island Island Police interviewed 14 members of the Sheriff's Department.
Cause of the Incident
According to the State Police report, the cause of the incident was human error.
“Despite consistent training, it is a feasible explanation that the unintentional discharge occurred due to human error. Range Office Zarra observed the weapon to discharge while in Deputy REDACTED hand. Sgt. Colbert, as well as Deputy Riccio (lane 9 directly next to Deputy REDACTED (holster) and Deputy Rodriguez (lane 11), noted in their statements that Deputy REDACTED “still had his hand on his weapon and not fully holstered” immediately after the discharge occurred. When interviewed by Corporal Houston and Det. O’Neill, REDACTED stated 'I went to holster and I shot my leg,' and to Lt. Barra REDACTED stated 'when I re-holstered my weapon it went off. I’m not sure if my finger was on the trigger or hit the trigger when I was re-holstering.' When asked by interviewing Detectives if there was anything out of the ordinary, Deputy REDACTED replied, ‘No.’”
State Police Not on Duty
According to Lt. Colonel Robert Creamer, the State Police range is not always staffed by Troopers.
“The Division of Sheriffs, as a branch of the Department of Public Safety, conducts Firearms Training on the RISP Academy Range without RISP supervision. The only requirement is that they stay in communication with RISP via telephone,” said Creamer.
“Per the RISP Academy Range Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Range Officers will be graduates of a formal firearms instructor program. All Division of Sheriffs Firearms Instructors are graduates of either the FBI or NRA Instructor courses and are competent professionals. Additionally, the Division of Sheriffs have trained Armorers on their Firearms Instructor Staff,” Creamer added.
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