On the evening of Friday, January 30, 2026, a Fall River, Massachusetts community was shaken by the violent deaths of 25-year-old Nicholas Almeida, a Caucasian male, and his mother. The tragic events unfolded around 8:05 p.m. when police received a 911 call reporting a double shooting at a residence on Barnes Street.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered both Nicholas Almeida and his 54-year-old mother, Elizabeth Almeida, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Emergency services transported them to a local hospital, but their injuries proved fatal, and both were pronounced deceased. Those who knew Nicholas remembered him for his sense of humor and his love of fishing.
At the scene of the crime, police located and arrested a suspect, 54-year-old Arlington Cole. A firearm was also recovered at the location. It was reported that Cole was in a dating relationship with Elizabeth Almeida. Scanner transmissions from that night indicated that a complainant had called dispatch to state he had just shot his wife and son and that the gun was on the kitchen table.
Arlington Cole was taken into custody and subsequently faced legal proceedings. He was initially charged with two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. These charges were later updated to include two counts of murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Cole was arraigned in Fall River District Court and was ordered to be held without bail. The investigation into the double homicide is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the Fall River Police Department.
