Troopers Who Shot Tarentino's Killer Acted 'Reasonably And Lawfully': Worcester DA

AUBURN, MA—Troopers acted "reasonably and lawfully" when they fatally shot Jorge Zombrano, the man who killed Auburn Officer Ronald Tarentino during a traffic stop on May 22, 2016, according to District Attorney Joseph Early.

Early announced the findings into the office's investigation of the shooting of Zambrano, 35, Worcester, who was shot after evading police and running to an apartment on 31-33 Watch St. in Oxford following the traffic stop with Tarentino.

"After failing to surrender himself peacefully, Jorge Zambrano shot and wounded Massachusetts State Trooper A.J. Kardoos and then was fatally shot by the State Police," states the announcement from the DA.

Investigators reviewed witness statements, police reports, State Police reports, crime scene reports, crime scene photos, video surveillance, cell phone information, DNA analysis, autopsy reports, autopsy photos, toxicology reports, firearm history and death certificates.

Around 12:26 a.m. on Sunday, May 22, Tarentino of the Auburn Police Department radioed Auburn Police Dispatch that he was stopping a 1997 Infiniti QX4 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) bearing a Massachusetts registration of 4PJX80 on Rochdale Street at Zabelle Ave. A short time later, Officer Tarentino said that shots had been fired and that he had been struck.

Arriving officers found Officer Tarentino seated in his cruiser bleeding from at least two gunshot wounds, according to authorities. He was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester where he was later pronounced deceased.

A witness who was driving on Rochdale Street said he heard on his scanner that shots had been fired, after which he turned around and headed to the scene. Before he got there, he saw a white Infiniti SUV speeding west on Rochdale Street.

Numerous departments responded to the scene, where they found at least five spent .45 caliber gold color shell casings near where the car would have been relative to the cruiser, and four more near the cruiser.

Around 7:45 a.m., Trooper Douglas Grout and Trooper Michael Travers interviewed the mother of Zambrano's daughter, who said that Zambrano called and said he was sorry and wished he had been there for her, said investigators. They went to Zambrano's apartment, where a neighbor told them that she heard Zambrano and a female arguing and that he left the apartment.

Investigators also found that Zambrano's ex-wife received a series of text messages and calls from Zambrano's brother.

Around 10 a.m., a witness who saw the report of Tarentino's murder in the newspaper called Auburn Police to report a white Infiniti SUV with no plates in the driveway at 31 Watch St. in Oxford. The witness and his girlfriend went to the police station to report that Zambrano was a frequent visitor to the Watch Street address and that he thought he sold crack cocaine to someone named "Crazy John."

After numerous interviews and evidence was gathered, a warrant issued, officers and troopers headed to 33 Watch St. and set up at 33 Watch St., the other side of the duplex. According to the DA's report, law enforcement initiated multiple attempts to peacefully draw Zambrano out of the apartment. "Amplified verbal commands were issued by troopers," reads the report. "A robot and chemical munitions were introduced without success. In addition, a police K-9 was introduced without success."

The resident of 31 Watch St. talked to trooper and officers, and said that Zambrano was in the apartment complex and looking for “suicide by cop.” A STOP Team went into the apartment, and it was empty, and it was determined that Zambrano may have slipped through to the adjacent apartment.

"The room was filled with furniture and mattresses," reads the DA's report. "The shades were drawn but daylight could be seen. A light mounted on the rifle of one of the troopers was illuminated. Two troopers coordinated to open and clear a closed closet in the bedroom. One trooper opened the closet door while the other illuminated the closet with the light from his rifle. That trooper saw a black handgun between some hanging clothes, which was pointed at the trooper. Almost simultaneously a dog jumped out of the closet and the gun began firing at the troopers. One of the troopers observed a man crouched down on the floor of the closet. As the handgun began firing from the closet, flames were seen coming from the ejection port and muzzle of the gun."

Kardoos was struck by one of the first rounds discharged from the handgun. The other two troopers then returned fire with their Colt M-4 rifles. Trooper Kardoos reported that he took a knee upon being injured and heard at least 4 or 5 rounds of loud pistol fire “cracking” above his head, said the investigation. Troopers saw Zambrano's gun and could distinguish the sound from their own. The two other troopers returned fire with their rifles only after they were fired upon, resulting in the injuries that caused Zambrano’s death, said the report. Kardoos was carrying a shotgun, which was not fired, and he sustained a gunshot wound to his arm and was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center where he successfully recovered from the shooting.

The autopsy determined that Tarentino's death was a homicide with a gunshot wound to the torso, a bullet entering his lower back and perforating his left kidney, pancreas, spleen, stomach, left lung and left heart ventricle, and exited the left side of his chest.

During a search of 33 Watch St., troopers had recovered a Smith & Wesson M&P 45 semiautomatic pistol from the hand of Zambrano. The firearm was reported stolen during a Breaking and Entering on or about Sept. 28, 2014, in Athol, said the report.

"In these circumstances the use of deadly force was appropriate," reads the conclusion of the DA's findings on the shooting of Zambrano.

Photo Credit: Auburn Police Department