Worcester Cop Uses 'Handgun Disarming Technique' After Shooting

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester police are celebrating the actions of a sergeant following an active shooter event in a south end neighborhood on Thursday morning.

At around 10:30 a.m., police responded to Becket Street on a report that someone was actively firing a gun. Sgt. Shawn Barbale responded to the scene and found himself face-to-face with the suspect along Lovell Street.

Barbale and the suspect — identified by Worcester police as 22-year-old Ruben Alexander Link — began talking with Barbale's police cruiser between them. When Barbale approached Link to check his identification, Link reached for a 9mm handgun that was tucked into his pants, police said.

Police said that Barbale used a "handgun disarming technique" to get the weapon out of Link's hand. No one was injured during the incident, police said. Barbale is the lead defensive tactics trainer for Worcester police, and works as a trainer for the state Municipal Police Training Committee. He also trains local police in deescalation tactics.

"Sgt. Barbale’s expertise in deescalation and defensive tactics has been a tremendous asset to the entire department," Worcester police Chief Steven Sargent said in a news release Thursday.

Link, who is from Tennessee, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, and various gun law violations, police said.