A police officer was shot and killed during a traffic stop in a central Massachusetts town early Sunday and authorities are now hunting for the suspect, Fox 25 Boston reported.
The murdered officer, Ronald Tarentino, 42, joined the Aubu Police Department two years ago after transferring from the Leicester, Mass., department, Aubu Police Chief Andrew Sluckis said at a news conference Sunday afteoon.
Tarentino leaves a wife and three children.
BREAKING: Sources say Aubu police officer shot oveight has died. https://t.co/sVXcclCLeq pic.twitter.com/yXKK0cc0QI
— FOX25 News Boston (@fox25news) May 22, 2016
The department “lost a dedicated and brave public servant,” Sluckis said, before aouncing that no further details on the incident would be released at this time.
Massachusetts State Police said the Aubu police officer was shot at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Aubu is about 45 miles southwest of Boston.
Tarentino was rushed to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, WGGB/WSHM-TV reported.
The shooter fled the scene in a vehicle and police were looking for him, the station reported.
Our thoughts and prayers are with @AubuMAPolice as they mou the loss of one of their officers who was killed oveight.
— Arlington Police (@ArlingtonMAPD) May 22, 2016
Aubu Police, the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI, and the Worcester Police are working together in the investigation, Sluckis said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.