18-Year-Old Arrested After Shooting and Wounding Rhode Island Man in Stoughton

STOUGHTON — In a shocking incident that unfolded on Saturday, Stoughton police apprehended an 18-year-old suspect after he allegedly shot and injured a man from Rhode Island. Chief Donna McNamara provided details about the incident, highlighting the severity of the charges faced by the accused.

The suspect, identified as Marc Francois, a resident of Stoughton, is facing a multitude of charges, including assault and battery with a firearm, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, disorderly conduct, and armed robbery.

The Incident Details

According to Chief McNamara, the Stoughton Police Department received a distressing 911 call reporting gunshots fired in the residential area of Central Street and Greenwood Avenue.

“Our officers responded promptly and gathered information about a suspect seen fleeing the scene,” stated McNamara in a written statement, emphasizing the swift action taken by law enforcement.

The police quickly located the suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Marc Francois, near a condominium complex. The authorities also recovered a firearm believed to be involved in the incident.

Shortly after the incident, an officer discovered that a man from Rhode Island had sustained a gunshot wound and was receiving treatment at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. The police determined that the shooting had occurred in Stoughton.

The Motive Behind the Shooting

While the investigation is ongoing, the police have not yet disclosed the motive behind the shooting. However, they did mention that the information gathered so far suggests that this was not a random act of violence and there is no immediate threat to the community.

Chief McNamara expressed the utmost importance of community safety, assuring residents that the police response was swift and the investigation is being conducted diligently. She stated, “This incident exemplifies the professionalism of our police force during a rapidly unfolding situation.”

Arraignment and Legal Proceedings

Marc Francois was held in custody over the holiday weekend, with bail set at $500,000 in cash. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Tuesday at Stoughton District Court.

For more information, contact Enterprise staff writer Amelia Stern via email at astern@enterprisenews.com.