LEICESTER, Mass. (WHDH) – More than 100 people came together at Leicester’s Town Common Sunday evening, where they lit candles and paid tribute to slain Officer Ronald Tarentino.
Tarentino, a police officer in Auburn, was shot and killed during a traffic stop early Sunday morning. Police said the man who shot him and fled was later killed in a shootout with officers when they found him hiding in an apartment building in Oxford.
Tarentino, 42, was honored in Leicester because he served their community as a police officer before joining the police department in Auburn. He grew up in Tewksbury and comes from a law enforcement family; his father is a retired officer from the Medford Police Department, where his uncle is currently on the force.
Tarentino is survived by his wife and three sons. Friends said one of his children graduates high school next week and another is in the Army. The family’s pastor, Stephen Derrick, prayed with Tarentino’s wife and sons and said they have lots of support.
“There’s a church family who loves her and will be here for her after the dust settles, we want to be surrounding them with love,” said Derrick.
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