Newport police say a suspected sailboat thief fired first from below deck, wounding an officer and triggering a deadly exchange caught on body-camera video.
Story Highlights
- Police-released body-camera video shows officers ordering the suspect to stay on deck before a shot rings out from the cabin.
- Newport’s police chief says the suspect fired one round from inside, and officers returned fire.
- An officer suffered a leg injury during the gunfire and was treated at a local hospital.
- The suspect was found unresponsive in the cabin with a firearm beside him after the exchange.
Police Say First Shot Came From Inside the Stolen Sailboat
Newport Police released a narrated package of body-camera footage that shows officers boarding a 40-foot sailboat identified as stolen and ordering the man on deck to show his hands. The video captures the man moving below deck despite clear commands. Seconds later, a gunshot is heard, and an officer shouts that he has been hit. Police say that first round came from inside the cabin, and officers returned fire to stop the threat.
Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy said the man, identified as 27-year-old Brendan Norris, fired a single shot from the cabin area before officers responded with gunfire. Officials said officers then held position, communicated the injury, and worked to secure the scene. The department’s narrated release pairs body-worn cameras with radio traffic and supporting video to walk viewers through the sequence from boarding to the final clearing of the vessel after the shooting.
Officer Injured, Suspect Found With Gun and Fatal Head Wound
Audio on the released video captures an officer yelling that he was hit in the leg during the initial gunfire. Reporting states he was taken to Newport Hospital and later recovered. After the exchange, officers entered the cabin and found Norris unresponsive with a severe head injury and a firearm nearby. Police pronounced him dead on the scene. Authorities have not provided a full shot count by each officer, but they emphasize the first round struck law enforcement.
The shooting unfolded aboard a vessel reported stolen weeks earlier from Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City, New Jersey, linking the harbor response to an active theft case. Police and local media identified the boat as a 40-foot Pathfinder sailboat. The theft report and the boat’s presence in Newport set the stage for the encounter, which escalated within moments of boarding when Norris went below deck despite commands and a visible police presence around the vessel.
Released Footage, Ongoing Reviews, and What Comes Next
The department’s public release combines portions of body-camera video, radio communications, and supporting clips to provide a timeline of the incident. This type of debrief aims to inform the community and show why officers used deadly force when faced with a shot from inside a tight, confined cabin. Officials have said state-level reviews and internal processes typically follow such shootings. News accounts note those reviews were underway when the video package was made public.
WATCH: A suspected sailboat thief opens fire on police in Newport, Rhode Island, triggering a deadly shootout captured on bodycam footage.
Officers approached the 40-foot vessel after it was spotted anchored in Newport Harbor. The boat had been reported stolen from a New Jersey… pic.twitter.com/3FpUA8fSmo
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 3, 2026
For many Americans, this case underscores a basic principle: when criminals open fire, officers must end the threat fast to protect lives. Body cameras help the public see what police face in real time, especially in risky spaces like a narrow cabin where one round can end a life. The footage here shows firm commands, a sudden gunshot, a wounded officer, and a swift response. That sequence supports the department’s account that officers acted to defend themselves and the community.
Sources:
facebook.com, wpri.com, patch.com, whatsupnewp.com
