News

Swansea man arrested in shooting death of woman claims self defense

SWANSEA, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com / AP) - A Swansea man has been arraigned in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman and will be charged with murder.

Police say they received numerous emergency calls at about 1:35 a.m. Sunday about a shooting on the roadway near 356 Ocean Grove Ave. in Swansea.

The victim was identified as Melissa J. White of Swansea. Paramedics and police found her lying in the street, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Emergency responders rushed her to the hospital but she was declared dead at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence shortly after arriving.

Timothy R. Levesque of Swansea, a former correctional officer and father of a Swansea police officer, was arrested and arraigned Monday morning in Fall River District Court on charges of murder and assault and battery.

Levesque claims the shooting was self defense, and that he shot White after she lunged at him with a crowbar.

He was ordered held without bail.