An off-duty Boston police officer shot and killed a man armed with a knife inside a crowded Chick-fil-A on Boylston Street Saturday evening, police said.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. when two individuals ran into the Back Bay restaurant, attempting to escape from a man wielding a knife. The man was reportedly trying to stab them.
An off-duty police officer identified himself and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. When the suspect refused to comply, the officer fired, striking him, officials said.
Emergency responders transported the wounded man to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The officer was also taken to the hospital for a stress evaluation, Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at a news conference at the scene.
Officials credited the police officer for his actions to protect the public.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is leading the investigation, reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses. Officials believe additional witnesses may have information and are urging them to come forward.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the individual who was lost,” District Attorney Kevin Hayden said at the news conference.
Hayden did not disclose the ages of those involved but indicated they were young. No other injuries were reported.
Mayor Michelle Wu also offered condolences to the family of the individual who lost his life, and expressed concern for members of the public who might have been exposed to the violence. Trauma services will be available to those who experienced the incident in the one of the “busier parts of the city,” she said.
“Any incidence of violence is deeply impactful,” Wu said.
