New Bedford Man Fatally Shot Wednesday Night

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A New Bedford man was shot and killed in the city late Wednesday night.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that a homicide investigation is underway.

New Bedford Police received a ShotSpotter alert at about 11:30 p.m. on May 6 in the area of Acushnet Avenue and Russell Street. New Bedford Police and EMS arrived to find the victim a short distance away on Russell Street. He was found inside his vehicle, a 2022 gray Honda Accord, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

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Victim Identified

He was identified as Steven Coan, 31, of New Bedford.

Coan was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

New Bedford and State Police Investigating

Quinn said the investigation is being conducted by New Bedford Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the D.A.’s Office.

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Gun death rates per 100,000 are high in the U.S., and getting higher. Here's a list of states ranked by firearm safety, from lowest death rates to highest. Data for 2021 is from the CDC via Violence Policy Center.

Gallery Credit: Kate Robinson