DA Early Rules Officers Acted Lawfully in 2016 Shooting Death of Worcester Man

Thursday, September 28, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Joseph Early Jr.

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. concluded that the Massachusetts State Troopers involved in the May 22, 2016, shooting death of Jorge Zambrano acted reasonably and lawfully.

“State Police Troopers were attempting to arrest Jorge Zambrano. After failing to surrender himself peacefully, Jorge Zambrano shot and wounded Massachusetts State Trooper A.J. Kardoos and then was fatally shot by the State Police. Under the circumstances the Troopers acted reasonably and lawfully,” wrote Early in his report released on Wednesday.

The Incident

Zambrano shot Police Officer Ronald Tarentino multiple times resulting in his death during a motor vehicle stop. Zambrano made several phone calls to family members suggesting regret and disappointment. Zambrano fled his apartment to Oxford and concealed the vehicle used in the murder of Officer Tarentino. Zambrano was known to carry a firearm and a significant amount of ammunition. Law Enforcement was clearly informed he was armed, violent and unstable.

The State Police applied for and obtained an Arrest Warrant for Zambrano for violating his conditions of probation.

Zambrano refused to surrender himself peacefully after multiple requests by the State Police, the use of verbal commands to surrender, the use of a robot, the use of chemical munitions and a K-9 dog. The STOP Team methodically employed these techniques in both dwellings. Upon discovering that Zambrano had entered the basement of the second dwelling, the team entered that residence and cleared the first floor.

Three troopers entered a bedroom on the second floor at the top of the stairs as additional team members entered a nearby bathroom. In the bedroom, troopers encountered a closed closet. Upon opening the closet door, a dog jumped out of the closet. At the same time, a black handgun, camouflaged among hanging clothes, began firing at the troopers. Zambrano was observed to be crouched down on the floor of the closet firing at the troopers. Zambrano fired at least 4 or 5 rounds at the troopers, shooting one of the troopers in the arm. The two other troopers returned fire, killing Zambrano.

In these circumstances the use of deadly force was appropriate.