Easton Woman Killed in Police Shooting Identified

EASTON — The Easton woman shot and killed by local police on Sunday has been identified as 56-year-old Marianne Griffiths.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said state police are actively investigating the fatal shooting, which allegedly took place while Griffiths was holding a pump action BB gun during a home welfare check.

Citing preliminary evidence, the D.A.'s office said emergency services received a 911 call from an Ashland man at around 11:30 a.m. Sunday asking for a well-being check on his mother, Griffiths.

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According to the D.A.'s office, the 911 caller said his mother told him she had injected herself with a dangerous amount of insulin in a suicide attempt.

Easton police responded to 32 Spooner St., where they found Griffiths and other members of her family.

The D.A.'s office said after a short discussion, she ran downstairs and threatened to shoot police officers and herself.

Police then evacuated everyone inside the home and left themselves.

Griffiths then allegedly ran back upstairs to the entrance and pointed what looked like a rifle at the officers outside.

One Easton police officer fired a single shot before retreating to cover.

The bullet hit Griffiths in the chest and she died at the scene.

When police went back inside, they recovered the rifle Griffiths was holding, which the D.A.'s office said turned out to be a pump action BB gun.

According to the preliminary investigation, Griffiths suffered from long-term mental health issues and showed suicidal ideation, the D.A.'s office said.

The office noted that the full investigation is ongoing and a final report will be made public after the investigation concludes.