Police identify 2 men shot to death in Tiverton

Police say that 81-year-old John Cloud, of Kingston, Massachusetts, and 80-year-old Edward Acquisto, of Tiverton, arranged to meet in a cemetery.

Tiverton Police Chief Thomas Blakey says the two met at the Pocasset Hill Cemetery in Tiverton around 7 p.m. Monday when Acquisto shot and killed Cloud.

Police say gunfire was exchanged before the suspect was shot by officers.

For complete story, see Wednesday’s print edition of The Call.

Edward Acquisto, 80, of State Avenue, Tiverton, was later shot by police during an encounter on Ford Farm Road.

“They did return fire, and the suspect was struck”.

Police have not publicly identified either man, but described both as elderly. Acquisto was shot by police after driving into Fall River.

The suspect led police on a chase that, for a brief time, crossed into Fall River before turning back into Tiverton.

After the shooting, Acquisto drove into neighboring Fall River, Massachusetts.

Rhode Island State Police is investigating the officer-involved shooting and is jointly investigating the homicide with Tiverton police. He was given a life sentence in the 1979 rape of an ex-girlfriend, reported the newspaper, but was paroled in 2003.

It was there, police said, that Acquisto exited the auto and exchanged gunfire with the officers.