Zachary Beaudet Died in Westminster Officer-Involved Shooting During Arrest for Probation Violation
WESTMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS (April 2, 2026) – A 22-year-old man identified as Zachary Beaudet has tragically died in a Westminster police shooting.
Westminster police officials are saying that the incident took place on Monday. Police officers showed up to the home of Zachary Beaudet to arrest him for a probation violation.
When an officer made contact with him inside the residence, he was allegedly holding a large knife and advanced toward the officers. At that point, the officers fired their service weapons.
Officers began administering emergency medical aid as paramedics were called to the scene. Zachary Beaudet was transferred to a local area hospital in critical condition.
Despite life-saving measures, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His mother has told reporters that her son has moderate to severe bilateral hearing loss. She said that he basically can’t hear anything without his hearing aids. A full investigation into the deadly encounter remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Westminster Police Shootings
Lethal force should only ever be used as an absolute measure of last resort during any type of police encounter. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. Police misconduct can take many forms, and officers may be found negligent for a wide range of actions during an encounter.
- Impairments: Police officers may not have taken into consideration a suspect’s physical or cognitive impairments.
- De-escalation: Police officers may not have thoroughly worked to de-escalate the encounter.
- Protocols: Police officers may have failed to follow a safety rule promulgated by their employer.
Many police shootings are totally preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers are not following safety protocols. In particular, a number of people have needlessly died because officers have failed to recognize a suspect’s non-compliance was the result of a disability or an acute mental health crisis. For example, police officers shot and killed a deaf man in Oklahoma City who was holding a metal pipe.
Steps to Take After Westminster Police Shootings
An unacceptably high number of individuals are killed or seriously injured each year during police encounters. According to the Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project, “In the U.S. during a given year, an estimated 1 million civilians experience police threat of or use of force resulting in a conservative estimate of 75,000 non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment and 600-1100 deaths.” Many different actions should be taken after any deadly police shooting.
- Medical records related to injuries should be sought.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
- The actions of police officers leading up to the encounter should be understood.
- The family of any person who died should seek an independent review by a team experienced in constitutional law.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any police shooting. When police departments investigate the actions of their officers, they will nearly always come to the conclusion that those officers did nothing wrong. But in far too many instances, this is not the case. The family of any person who died in a police shooting may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil rights claim.
Investigating Westminster Police Shootings
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Zachary Beaudet. Anyone with additional information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact investigators. The facts of this case are deeply concerning. It is deeply concerning that police officers, whose duty is to protect and serve, would use deadly force against a young man with severe hearing loss. This encounter should never have ended this way. Many questions remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about a Westminster police shooting? Our team of experienced civil rights advocates is here for you. We care deeply that victims of excessive force are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the specific facts of any case, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907 or contact us online.