Fall River is hurting after a quiet Friday night turned deadly on Barnes Street, where a mother and her adult son lost their lives in a sudden burst of violence. Elizabeth Almeida, 54, and her 25-year-old son, Nicholas Almeida, were killed together, leaving a neighborhood stunned and a family shattered.
Police were called to a home on Barnes Street shortly after 8 p.m. Officers arrived to find Elizabeth and Nicholas badly wounded. First responders moved fast, giving emergency care at the scene before rushing both victims to a nearby hospital. Despite every effort, doctors pronounced them dead soon after.
Investigators say the case is being handled as a fatal shooting. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that a suspect was found at the scene and taken into custody without any trouble. That suspect was identified as Arlington Cole, 54, who authorities say was in a dating relationship with Elizabeth Almeida.
A firearm was recovered at the residence, and prosecutors have indicated that criminal charges are expected as the investigation moves forward. Police have not released further details about what led up to the shooting, saying the case remains active and sensitive.
For neighbors, the facts only tell part of the story. Elizabeth was known as a devoted mother. Nicholas was a young man just starting to shape his future. Their deaths, coming together in the same place and moment, have cut especially deep for those who knew them.
In the hours after the shooting, Barnes Street filled with quiet shock. People stood outside, talking in low voices, trying to understand how a family could be torn apart so quickly. Many described the loss as overwhelming, the kind that leaves no easy words behind.
Authorities have asked the public to respect the privacy of the Almeida family as they grieve. Messages of sympathy continue to pour in, a reminder that Elizabeth and Nicholas were more than names in a police report. They were loved, and they mattered to this community.
As Fall River mourns, the focus remains on honoring their lives and seeking justice for what was taken from them. The answers will come in court. The pain, for many, will take much longer to ease.
