Officer Stabbed, Teen Shot And Killed In New Bedford

Police shot and killed a 15-year-old New Bedford boy after he stabbed a police officer with a hunting knife, authorities said Friday.

Mayor Jon Mitchell said officer Tyson Barnes, a member of the department's gang unit, was in stable condition at a Rhode Island Hospital and is expected to survive. But Mitchell said the stabbing could have killed Barnes. He said the hunting knife used by the teen had a gutting hook on it.

Authorities identified the boy as Malcolm Gracia.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter said Barnes and other members of the police gang unit were at the Temple Landing housing development about 8:40 p.m. Thursday when they approached Gracia and another person.

Sutter said Gracia repeatedly stabbed Barnes without provocation. He said other officers ordered Gracia to stop, but he did not.

"While still armed, he began to move toward the other officers and after repeated instructions to stop, officers filed several shots at him," Sutter said during a news conference.

Gracia was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital about an hour later.

Sutter said his office is investigating.