Update: Boston Police Officer in Coma After Roxbury Shooting; Suspect Dead
UPDATED 10:40am
A highly honored six-year veteran of the Boston Police remains in an induced coma after he was shot in Roxbury on Friday night, Police Commissioner William Evans said.
The suspect in the shooting, who police tentatively identified as Angelo West, 41, of Hyde Park, was shot and killed.
Officer John T. Moynihan, 34, was taken to Boston Medical Center with a gunshot wound just under his right eye. Evans described Moynihan’s condition as “critical,’’ adding that bleeding in the brain is the top concern for doctors at the moment.
The Boston Globe reported that Moynihan was credited with helping save a transit officer wounded in the Watertown shootout with the Tsarnaev brothers days after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
Boston Police said Moynihan was one of 17 Boston officers to receive the National Association of Police Organizations’ “Top Cop’’ award in 2014 at the White House.
Evans said in a news conference at the hospital Friday evening that Moynihan was responsive when he first arrived. The shooting occurred around 6:40 p.m.
The situation began when officers with the city’s Youth Violence Task Force pulled over a vehicle near the intersection of Humboldt Avenue and Ruthven Street, Evans said. As officers exited their car, a man in the pulled-over vehicle got out and opened fire.
“It was a case of a motor vehicle stop with the suspect coming out [and] firing at officers before they had any time to react,’’ Evans said.
He said he wasn’t sure what prompted the vehicle stop.
Another woman was also treated for a flesh wound on her arm, Evans said.
“I think she got caught up in the crossfire,’’ he said. “She is in good spirits, thank God.’’
Three other officers were brought to Brigham and Women’s for treatment for stress from the incident, Evans said.
The two other passengers in the car were arrested on charges unrelated to the shooting. One had a warrant and one had an outstanding probation violation, according to Evans.
Evans described Moynihan as a “highly decorated military vet’’ and one of the Youth Violence Task Force’s “most outstanding officers.’’ He served as an Army Ranger in Iraq from 2006-2007.
“Knock on wood, we don’t have these incidents happen often,’’ Evans said. “But we’ve got too many guns out there, too many young kids running around with guns. And unfortunately, this is what happens.’’
Mayor Marty Walsh released the following statement:
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Officer injured tonight, his family and friends and the entire Boston Police Department during this difficult time. These acts of violence have no place in our neighborhoods. Our community is stronger than ever, and tonight we are thankful for all of those who put their lives on the on the line every day to protect our City.’’
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