New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
UPDATED at 11:52am:
On Monday night at approximately 8:45 PM, Detective Lavar Gilbert, a veteran detective assigned to the “Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau” was working in an undercover capacity in the south end. At 8:45 PM, he was in an unmarked vehicle in the area of the Rivet St./Orchard St. intersection when shots were suddenly fired. Detective Gilbert’s window was shattered, and he was struck in the face. He remained conscious and was able to drive himself to the hospital where he received emergency medical treatment.
Soon thereafter, an adult male presented at the emergency room who had sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his foot. The circumstances surrounding his injury remain under investigation. However, we can confirm that neither Detective Gilbert nor any of our officers fired their weapons.
At this time, there is no indication that our detective was specifically targeted, nor is there a reason to believe that there is an ongoing threat to safety in the Goulart Square neighborhood.
Det. Gilbert was admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital and remains in stable condition.
“Being told that one of your own has been shot is a phone call that no police chief wants to receive, however, I’m extremely grateful that our detective is expected to recover. This is a stark reminder of the dangers that the men and women of law enforcement face on a daily basis as they keep our citizens safe. We are very thankful for the outpouring of support from members of the community, as well as the many law enforcement agencies who have reached out. Please keep our detective and his family in your thoughts as he continues to heal.”
UPDATED at 10:45am.
At around 8:45pm, a New Bedford police detective sustained an injury from a gunshot in the area of the Rivet St./Orchard St. intersection. He is receiving medical treatment right now and the injury is not considered to be life-threatening.
Two people were said to have been injured by the gunshots, including the unnamed officer who apparently was shot in the face. It is unclear if there was a solitary shooter or it was more than one individual in an exchange of fire.
The investigation remains very active at this time. The information regarding other victims is still unconfirmed at the moment and we will be updating as soon as we receive new information.
Mayor Jon Mitchell released this statement the night of the shooting:
“We are relieved that the detective, who has ably served the department for many years, will make a full recovery, as it was an extremely close call. The department is aggressively investigating the matter, with the assistance of state and federal law enforcement agencies.
I have full confidence that they will apprehend whoever was responsible for the shooting. This is a reminder of the risks police officers face everyday, and the importance of their work in maintaining public safety in our cities.”
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