Brendan Norris of Newport Rhode Island stole a Bermuda 40 yawl from it’s marina berth at the liberty Landing Marina on Augst 22 and sailed to his hometown where he anchored in Newport’s north Anchorage.
The yawl was reported missing by its owners to authorities and harbormasters along the northeast coast. On Wednesday the 27th, the Newport harbormaster sighted the boat in the anchorage and reported it to Newport police.
Four Newport officers and three crew from the harbormaster’s office approached the yawl in their service boats. The suspect ran belowdecks, armed himself and opened fire. One Newport officer was wounded in a “lower extremity” and was rushed to the hospital where he was treated and released.
As soon as the suspect opened fire, the police officers returned a fusillade of shots and the suspect was struck and killed. Witnesses nearby said they heard at least a dozen shots in rapid succession.
On the face of it, the theft of a classic Hinckley-built yacht was an odd choice since the boat would be immediately recognizable to any knowledgeable sailor or harbormaster. Second, to sail it into Newport, which is the sailing capital of the Northeast, put the stolen boat right in the one place it was certain to be found.
But what would have precipitated the theft, the return to Newport and the decision to fire on police instead of simply surrendering? As it turns out, Brandan Norris was living on the edge and having trouble paying his rent and had been unsuccessful finding a job he desired in the marine industry.
He was a graduate of Newport’s International Yacht Restoration School and had certificates in marine trades. He had a job with the Newport Mooring Company and had posted his new job search on the website crewbay.com.
Still, the chain of events that led to the 27-year-old’s death is full of unanswered questions. One thing is certain; the incident has left the quiet sea-side community of Newport shaken.
(Photo Credit: Ryan T. Conaty/The Providence Journal)
