Boston Police Officer Shot, Two Men Arrested After South End Incident
BOSTON (CBS) – Two men were arrested after a Boston Police officer was shot Sunday afternoon in the city's South End. Raquon Martin, 21, of Boston, and Antoine Mack, 35, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island face a number of charges.
The shooting happened before 2 p.m. in the area of Shawmut Ave. and West Springfield Street.
Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said police noticed a vehicle was double parked. When the officer pulled up, he made eye contact with three people who were sitting nearby. They stood up and took a stance that Gross said was a sign they were reaching for a gun.
"Three individuals made eye contact with the Youth Violent Strike Force, immediately got to their feet and they were clutching at their waist which is characteristics of an armed gunman," explained Gross.
When police followed the suspects to investigate, the suspects entered a common hallway of a nearby building and one person held the door closed. When police were able to gain access to the hallway, an officer was shot in the calf.
The officer suffered non-life threatening injuries. They were taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital.
A SWAT team response was required because one of the suspects ran into an apartment in the building and appeared to barricade himself.
All the while, residents were rerouted, "We were walking up just as the rush of cop cars and SWAT teams and they were just putting up the police tape. We were just trying to go to my friend's house," one woman said.
Martin and Mack were both charged with armed assault to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, unlawful possession of ammunition, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
They are scheduled to appear in Boston Municipal Court.
"This is intolerable. It shouldn't happen," Gross said. "That's heartwrenching. Just imagine one of your family members getting hurt, how would you feel about that?"
Mayor Marty Walsh visited the officer at the hospital. His office sent out a statement that said, "Our police officers work hard every day to keep our residents safe, and this senseless violence will not be tolerated. I wish a speedy recovery to the officer who was injured, and thank our first responders for their swift action today."