UPDATED: Cranston Police Officer Shot at Suspect on Saturday, Investigation Continues VIDEO

UPDATED: Cranston Police Officer Shot at Suspect on Saturday, Investigation Continues VIDEO

A Cranston Police officer shot at a suspect on Saturday -- the incident is now under review. 

Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael Winquist said that the incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 11:07 am on Cranston Street near the intersection of Niantic Avenue in Providence (just over the Cranston-Providence line).

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Winquist provided the following update at 7 p.m. on Saturday:

On December 7, 2019, at approximately 11:07 am, a Cranston Police Patrol Officer driving a marked police vehicle was clearing from a motor vehicle stop on Cranston Street in the City of Cranston when he observed an operator of a vehicle pass his location not wearing a seatbelt.

The Officer pulled behind the car as it was traveling north towards Niantic Avenue into Providence. The officer proceeded to activate his overhead emergency lights to execute a motor vehicle stop. The driver of the vehicle initially appeared to be pulling over to the right, but in an apparent attempt to flee, suddenly swerved back into the left lane before sideswiping a car stopped in traffic. The suspect could not continue forward due to heavy traffic congestion.

The officer exited his vehicle to approach the driver, at which time the suspect placed his vehicle in reverse, quickly passing the officer the wrong way down Cranston Street before striking the guardrail on the west side of the roadway. The officer approached the suspect’s vehicle on foot, which was now facing towards him, pointed his firearm at the suspect while shouting commands for the driver to stop. The driver then placed the car in drive and began traveling directly at the officer who fired one round at the driver. The bullet went through the windshield but did not strike the suspect.

A Rhode Island State Trooper who was in the parking lot of a nearby 7-11, heard the gunshot and observed the Cranston officer in the roadway responded to assist in placing the suspect in custody. Neither the officer nor the suspect was injured. There were no other occupants inside the suspect vehicle.

The suspect, identified as Anthony T. McKinney, Jr, age 28, of Providence, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital after making claims of a heart-related issue and is expected to be released tonight.  Due to the alleged criminal activity occurring in the City of Providence, Rhode Island State Police Detectives will file all relevant criminal charges. 

Mr. McKinney has a lengthy criminal history to include narcotics-related charges and a 2011 conviction for armed robbery for which he received a 15-year sentence. He was released from the Adult Correction Institution on January 31, 2019. He also has an active arrest warrant from the Providence Police Department for Assault.

“The officer involved in this incident is an eight-year veteran of the Cranston Police Department who is well trained. Based on a preliminary investigation, I support the officer's actions. Fortunately, he was not injured, and he can go home to his family tonight. The suspect unnecessarily created an extremely dangerous situation that endangered the officer’s life and the general public," said Winquist.

Investigation Underway

Members of the Cranston Police Department, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, Rhode Island State Police and the Providence Police Department are actively investigating.

The investigation is being conducted jointly by the agencies named above following the Attorney General’s Protocol Regarding Use of Deadly Force Incidents.

Photos and video: Reynaldo Almonte, Latino Public Radio

Updated Saturday 7:12 PM