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Off-duty Boston police officer fatally shoots armed man in Back Bay Chick-fil-A, officials say
Two people were chased inside Chick-fil-A on Boylston Street around 5:27 p.m. by a man armed with a knife, according to Boston police.
An off-duty Boston police officer shot and killed a man who was allegedly wielding a knife inside a restaurant near Back Bay’s Copley Square Saturday, officials said.
Two people were chased inside Chick-fil-A on Boylston Street around 5:27 p.m. by a man armed with a knife, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox told reporters.
An off-duty officer who was at the restaurant identified himself as a police officer and told the man to drop his weapon, Cox said. The man, who has not been identified by police, allegedly did not comply.
The off-duty officer then shot the man, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The officer was also transported to the hospital to be evaluated, and there were no other reported injuries.
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“We don’t look for loss of life, so our condolences go to the individual who was killed tonight,” Cox said. “We’re proud of the police officers who activate themselves, whether it’s on duty or off duty, to try to save lives.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, whose office will lead the investigation, and Mayor Michelle Wu also spoke at the press conference. All of the officials offered their condolences to the family and friends of the man killed and asked anyone who was in the area to talk with police.
A Chipotle restaurant next door to Chick-fil-A was also being processed as a crime scene Saturday night; reporters asked if the scene could be bigger than just the restaurant where the shooting took place. Cox responded: “this is a pretty big investigation.”
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“There’s a lot that we don’t know yet, and we believe that there are people that know what may have happened here, that did not make themselves available to the police,” Hayden said.
Wu emphasized the incident happened in “such an active part of Boston,” near the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church.
“Any incident of violence is deeply impactful,” Wu said. “I’m glad that the officer is safe and very grateful for a quick response from all of our first responders.”
Officials declined to comment on any motive for the incident.
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