A Boston police officer was saved by his bulletproof vest Monday night when a suspect in Dorchester shot him in the chest, according to reports. That suspect is now in custody.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox told reporters that the officer was responding to a 911 call that came in around 9:35 p.m. and warned of a person armed with a gun near the intersection of Esmond and Bradshaw Streets, WCVB reported. As the officers approached the suspect, he fired one shot at them, striking the officer in the chest, Cox said.
The other responding officers were able to arrest the suspect and recover a gun at the scene, Cox told reporters, according to WCVB. The injured officer was taken to Boston Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
“This is another heroic act by our police officers doing a very, very difficult job. With all the firearms that we have out here, we’re doing all that we can to remove them. But more importantly, officers showed tremendous restraint,” Cox told reporters during a press conference. “They follow their training, protecting the citizens of Boston. We’re highly, highly proud of them and the work that they do on a daily basis.”
The suspect is set to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on Tuesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden told reporters, according to WCVB. Neither the suspect nor the officer have been identified, but Cox said the officer has been with the police department for approximately two years.
The gunman was involved in a domestic incident, Boston 25 News reported. No further information about the shooting has been released.
