NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marvin Veiga, one of the MA State Police’s Most Wanted Fugitives, was killed in a police-involved shooting in Nashville, Tenn. over the weekend. Veiga was wanted for a 2020 Brockton murder and was killed during a traffic stop early Saturday morning.
The incident began when Nashville Metro police pulled over a Mercedes vehicle with mismatched license plates. Veiga was a passenger in the car.
During the stop, police say, the driver offered no resistance, however, Vegia emerged from the vehicle holding two large butcher knives. Officer Christopher Royer’s body camera recorded him urging Veiga – who was not identified at the time – to drop the knives.
[ Massachusetts State Police hunting dangerous fugitives ]
Instead, Royer’s body-worn camera records Veiga trying to get into Royer’s cruiser.
Royer draws his gun and then is heard on the minute-long video ordering Veiga, “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!”
At another point, Royer yells at Veiga, “Dude! What are you doing? I don’t want to shoot you!”
At this point, Royer had backed away from Veiga. But in seconds, Veiga charged at Officer Royer. The video shows he was carrying at least one large knife. Officer Royer fired his weapon three times and Veiga immediately dropped to the ground.
Royer calls in the shooting, and then approaches Veiga on the ground and says to Veiga, “Dude what are you doing, man? I did not want to have to do that.”
Massachusetts State Police had been searching for Veiga and 29-year-old Takari Elliot after they were indicted on murder and gun charges for fatally shooting 25-year-old Manuel Duarte on Oct. 13, 2020.
On March 5, police obtained arrest warrants charging Elliot and Veiga. Elliot was located and arrested but Veiga was not. Elliot has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bail pending his court appearance on May 5.
State Police added Veiga to its Most Wanted List on March 18.
Marvin Veiga was known for violent confrontations with police. In 2011 he was arrested for pointing a loaded M16 rifle at Boston Police during a traffic stop. In that incident, Veiga was shot in the leg and survived.
Marvin Veiga was identified by Nashville Police through his extensive tattoos and her fingerprints. His family was notified of his death on Monday. The circumstances surrounding Veiga’s death remain under investigation.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW