A Rhode Island man, identified as 27-year-old Brendan Norris, was killed in a gunfight with police in Newport after allegedly stealing a rare luxury sailboat from a marina in Jersey City, New Jersey. The incident occurred Wednesday morning when officers responded to a report of a stolen vessel.
Norris is believed to have taken the 1968 Hinkley Bermuda 40, named Pathfinder, from Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City on Saturday night. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Norris near the marina for approximately 90 minutes before untying the boat and departing. He is accused of disabling the vessel's transponder system as he sailed toward Rhode Island.
The owner of the Pathfinder, Jim Bonomo, discovered the sailboat missing when he returned to the marina on Sunday morning. He reported the theft to the New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard, and alerted marinas along the East Coast to be on the lookout.
Bonomo noted the rarity of his vessel, stating that only about 200 Hinkley Bermuda 40s were ever made. The Pathfinder was eventually located by harbormaster officials at Newport Marina, moored near the Newport Bridge.
When Newport police officers and harbormaster personnel approached the boat, Norris allegedly refused commands and retreated below deck. He then armed himself and fired at the officers, initiating a shootout. Norris was killed in the exchange, and one officer sustained injuries to his lower extremities. The wounded officer was hospitalized in stable condition and has since been released. Witnesses reported hearing between 10 and 14 gunshots.
Norris's online profile for a crewing service indicated he had extensive experience with boats, listing himself as captain of a 40-foot mooring boat in Newport, Rhode Island, and Chief Engineer on a 65-foot luxury motor yacht. He was seeking work as a deckhand or crewmate in the yachting industry. The owner expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating he didn't understand the motive behind the theft that led to such a tragic end.