One Braintree Police Officer Released From Hospital After Shooting That Killed K9, Suspect
BRAINTREE (CBS) -- One of the two Braintree police officers wounded in Friday afternoon's shooting in the area of McCusker Drive has left the hospital, and both are expected to be OK, the police chief said Saturday. The shooting, described by authorities as a firefight in the woods, killed a K9 and the suspect, and remains under investigation.
Officer Matthew Donoghue, a 34-year-old who's been on the force for nine years, was released from Boston Medical Center Saturday afternoon. He's a National Guard veteran who has served in Afghanistan.
Officer Bill Cushing is a 15-year veteran of the department who is still at a local hospital. He was K9 Kitt's handler, and a special ceremony is planned for Kitt once he's released.
Police Chief Mark Dubois said the officers were both wearing bulletproof vests and are expected to make a full recovery. He said the department is fortunate the outcome wasn't worse.
"We're very, very thankful for the outpouring of support from the community of Braintree," he said.
Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey asked the public on Friday to "say a prayer" for the officers while they were in surgery after being shot multiple times.
The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Andrew Homen of Brockton. Homen was well-known to police, according to the district attorney's office.
Police were responding to a report of a domestic incident in the area of the Braintree Village apartment complex on McCusker Drive. They were told the suspect fled into the adjacent woods.
"The K9 officer went with two other officers to assist searching for the suspect," Dubois said. "We made it 100 yards into the woods, where they were essentially ambushed at that point."
K9 Kitt was also a veteran of the force.
"It's tragic for us, for that K-9. That dog is incredible, and very successful," Dubois said. "Twelve-year veteran of the police department. . . it's heartbreaking."
