Local News

Officials: Video captured police, FBI shooting man

Officials say Usaama Rahim of Roslindale brandished a knife at police prior to being fatally shot Tuesday morning. The Boston Globe

By Adam Vaccaro

June 2, 2015

1 minute to read

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said video captured a Boston police officer and FBI agent shooting a Roslindale man who was carrying a large knife Tuesday morning.

Evans said in a Tuesday afternoon press conference that video evidence shows that the man, identified as Usaama Rahim, who was being investigated by an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, was the aggressor in the situation. Rahim died after being shot twice, he said.

“We have video depicting the individual coming at the officers as the officers are retreating,’’ Evans said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley also said the video showed officers backing away when Rahim took out the knife.

A Boston Police spokesperson said the video came from a nearby business and that it could be released at the discretion of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Jake Wark, a spokesperson for Conley, said releasing the video was “a decision that has to be made based on the totality of the circumstances in the case’’ and that such a decision could be made “in the coming days.’’

Conley said Tuesday that after an investigation into the incident is completed, the entire investigative file will be released to the public.

Rahim has been under watch for “some time,’’ Evans said. He said Rahim was approached Tuesday morning for questioning. There was not a warrant for his arrest, officials said Tuesday afternoon.