Judge Cleared Cambridge Officers in Fatal Shooting
A judicial inquest found that the police shooting of William Woodworth was objectively reasonable.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Law Enforcement
A District Court judge has concluded a judicial inquest into the August 21, 2026, fatal shooting of 64-year-old William Woodworth in a Cambridge parking lot. The Middlesex District Attorney will not pursue criminal charges against the officers involved after the court found their actions were justified.
Why it matters
The ruling provides legal closure for an incident that raised significant questions regarding police conduct and the use of lethal force. By determining the officers acted in response to an imminent danger, the court has effectively halted further criminal prosecution of the three involved personnel.
Judge Holly V. Broadbent ruled the conduct of officers James T. Nestor, Donald R. Conrad, and David Kerns was objectively reasonable after reviewing 38 exhibits and body-worn camera footage. No criminal charges will be filed against the officers.
The players
Holly V. Broadbent
She is the District Court judge who oversaw the judicial inquest and issued the final ruling on the shooting.
William Woodworth
The 64-year-old man who died from five gunshot wounds during a confrontation with police.
James T. Nestor
One of the police officers involved in the shooting who discharged his firearm during the incident.
Donald R. Conrad
A police officer who participated in the shooting and fired shots during the struggle in Central Square.
David Kerns
An officer involved in the Central Square incident who was subject to the judicial inquest findings.
The details
The shooting took place in Central Square after officers encountered a suspect who retrieved a firearm from under his seat. A physical struggle ensued, leading officers Nestor and Conrad to discharge seven shots, which resulted in five gunshot wounds to the victim.
Timeline
August 21, 2026: William Woodworth was fatally shot by police in a Central Square parking lot.
August 24, 2026: The District Attorney formally requested a judicial inquest into the incident.
September 9, 2026: The formal inquest process for fact-finding began.
October 2, 2026: The inquest concluded with a ruling that denied the pursuit of criminal charges.
Legal Context
This judicial inquest follows the procedural pattern set by the 2023 inquest that utilized 29 witnesses to review a police-involved incident. The decision reinforces the current jurisdictional reliance on judicial oversight to resolve investigations into lethal force.
The conclusion of this inquest signals the end of active police activity surrounding this specific case in the Central Square area. Residents should not expect additional road closures or investigative measures related to the August incident.
The takeaway
The court's ruling establishes that the officers' use of force met the threshold for objective reasonableness during the confrontation. Citizens may note that this decision effectively ends the potential for criminal litigation regarding the actions of the three officers.
Further reading
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