Boston Police Kill Teen Who Opened Fired On Cops: Commissioner

BOSTON — A Boston police officer shot and killed a 19-year-old in Dorchester Monday after the teen opened fire, according to the police commissioner. The teen, who died at the scene on Penhallow Street, was not identified.

"There was a shooting incident in the park, the officers gave pursuit to two possible suspects, and unfortunately a suspect fired at two Boston police officers," Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said during a late night press conference Monday.

Gross said these events led to the officer-involved shooting:

• Around 5 p.m., police received a call about a person shot at 508 Geneva Ave. at Town Field. About that same time, someone else alerted nearby officers on bicycles that there had been a shooting in that same area. Those officers saw two men running away, with one running toward Penhallow Street.
• Both officers chased the two two men. One officer dropped his bike and followed on foot as the teen ran down Penhallow Street. When he saw that the teen had a gun, the officer told the man to drop the guns several times.
• Instead of dropping the gun, the teen shot at the officers, missing them.

"At which time the officer returned fire and striking the suspect," Gross said.

The two officers then immediately began first aid on the young man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The officers were taken to a hospital where they're under observation. They will be placed on leave while the District Attorney's office investigates.

The shooting happened just weeks after the city rolled 200 Boston police officers started wearing body cameras around the city. The first to wear the cameras include officers in Dorchester and officers on the Youth Violence Strike Force.

Although the bike officers in Monday's shooting were not wearing body cams, other officers who helped were wearing body cams, and the commissioner said investigators planned to review that footage.

Gross said police found a gun they believed the man used. And it did not appear there were any shooting victims in the park.

Although a number of witnesses have come forward with information, police said they're still asking for the public's help in coming forward with any information that might be useful.

"The only way that we're going to stop these repeat violent crimes is if we work together to ensure that the individuals responsible for these violent crimes are brought to justice," Gross said.

Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff contributed to this report.