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September 25, 2006

Update: Rumford murder suspect shot by NYC police

EAST PROVIDENCE -- A Massachusetts man wanted for a murder last night in the Rumford area was shot and apprehended by New York City police this morning.

Authorities believe that Joel Noonan, 36, of Avon, Mass., stabbed 37-year-old Steven Dowgiala to death during a quarrel last night. Noonan is the cousin of Dowgiala's wife.

Noonan was shot by New York City police today at about 9 a.m. following a traffic accident in Manhattan. Noonan, who is in police custody, is expected to survive.

Noonan was driving the same Jeep Grand Cherokee that authorities in Rhode Island had been searching for since last night's homicide when he crashed into a Nissan Pathfinder this morning in Manhattan's Upper East Side, according to a report released by the New York Police Department. A female pedestrian was injured in the accident and is listed in stable condition at an area hospital.

It is unclear if Noonan was being followed by police at the time, but authorities immediately arrived on the scene and confronted him. Noonan "exited his vehicle armed with a knife," according to the NYPD, and was shot by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority policeman.

Noonan was in surgery this morning and is expected to survive, East Providence police Lt. Steven Kennedy said.

Rhode Island authorities also released new information this afternoon regarding the Rumford stabbing for which Noonan was wanted.

At about 6:15 last night Noonan entered a home at 15 Kenton Ave., East Providence, and allegedly attacked Dowgiala, eventually stabbing him in the chest, according to a statement released by the East Providence police. Dowgiala later was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.

After stabbing Dowgiala, police said Noonan "then assaulted the adult female resident and her 8-year-old daughter before fleeing the scene." They sustained minor injuries.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 2:15 PM | Permalink

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