Boston officer shot at the south end; life-threatening injuries

A Boston policeman is expected to recover after being shot and wounded Sunday afternoon in the South End, and a suspect was arrested after being briefly barricaded in a house, according to Boston police.

"Thank goodness, it's a life-threatening injury," Police Commissioner William Gross told reporters. "He was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for this injury."

The youth strike force officers of the department patrolled West Springfield Street shortly before 2 pm. On Sunday, they noticed a double parking car playing loud music, Gross said.

Three men in their twenties who were sitting on the front stairs at 91 West Springfield St. made eye contact with gang unit officers and immediately stood up "holding the waist, characteristic of An armed man, "Gross said.

The police tried to follow the young men into the building, but one of the three would have held the door to block the entrance of the police, according to the commissioner.

After the police penetrated inside the house, one of the young men shot at them, hitting an officer in the calf, Gross said.

After one of the men entered an apartment, SWAT agents and hostage negotiators came to the scene, Gross said. The police were finally able to detain the three men without further shots, he added.

Around West Springfield Street, Sunday afternoon, several blocks were closed to traffic with yellow police tape, which neighbors and passersby watched as they tried to get an idea of ​​the situation. Marked and unmarked police vehicles, including large armored trucks, were deployed throughout the area.

Vincent Peguero, who lives around the corner, said that he had gone out to smoke a cigarette when suddenly he saw a massive police response.

He suspected that an officer had been injured, he said, and later he saw a policeman wounded on a stretcher with his boot and sock removed.

"Normally, when this number of policemen come out, it's a cop who was killed," he said.

Peguero said he had lived in the neighborhood for 20 years, and it is not uncommon to hear gunshots nearby, although it has become less common as the neighborhood has exchange.

"I'm a little used," he said. "Things are happening every day."

Mayor Martin J. Walsh visited the injured officer at the hospital on Sunday afternoon and, in a later statement, expressed his frustration with the shooting.

"Our police officers work hard every day to keep our residents safe, and this senseless violence will not be tolerated," said Walsh. "I wish a speedy recovery to the officer who has been injured and thank our first responders for their quick action today."

Mr. Gross said that he was "heartbreaking" when an officer is injured in the performance of his duties.

"It's just intolerable. It should not happen, "he said. "And there you go, another person with a gun on the street.

"But, as I always say, it will not dissuade us," he said. "We send the same message every day. We will work with you, the good citizens of Boston, to make sure everyone gets it. And if they do not, you will be locked up.

Jeremy C. Fox can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jeremycfox. Lucas Phillips can be contacted at [email protected].