A tense Saturday night in Dorchester ended with a Boston police officer firing a weapon on Cushing Avenue, but officials say no one was hit. The incident unfolded around 10:30 p.m., and a suspect was taken into custody and brought to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation, according to city officials.
According to WHDH, Boston police said the officer discharged their firearm at about 10:30 p.m. The station reported that "no one was shot," that a person was arrested at the scene, and that the department has opened an investigation into the gunfire.
Details from the scene
Boston 25 reported that officers were dispatched to 57 Cushing Avenue shortly before 10:40 p.m. Initial radio calls indicated that an officer had discharged a firearm. The outlet noted there were no reported injuries and that the suspect was in custody as investigators documented the scene late into the night.
Investigations and policy
The Boston Police Department's rules state that "there shall be no discharge of firearms unless authorized by the Incident Commander, except in self defense or the preservation of life," and they spell out notification requirements when a weapon discharge results in injury or property damage. Under department procedures, any discharge of a firearm is reviewed internally and can trigger a criminal inquiry depending on what investigators find. The full process is laid out in the department's published Boston Police rules.
Local context
Cushing Avenue and the nearby Uphams Corner area have seen gun activity in recent months, including a shots fired incident in June that left ballistic evidence at the scene and damage to a home, the Dorchester Reporter noted. That recent history has neighbors on edge as investigators sort out exactly what happened on Saturday night.
Boston police say the incident remains under investigation and that no further information has been released. This story will be updated as officials provide additional details.
