One Boston police officer shot, two others injured, official says

A Boston police officer was shot multiple times while responding to a robbery in Roxbury Friday night, and two other officers were also injured but not by gunfire, officials said.

The officer who was shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and was in stable condition at Boston Medical Center, Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at a late-night news briefing outside the hospital.

A suspect was in custody, Cox said.

"As it stands right now, we have a suspect, and thank goodness that an officer struck multiple times is still with us," Cox said shortly before 11:30 p.m.

The suspect was not identified. Police did not say what charges they are facing.

The officer, whose name was not released, was on patrol when he came across the robbery near 44 Cedric St., the commissioner said.

"The officer approached the suspect, who was armed with a firearm. He was fired upon several times, being struck multiple times," Cox said.

Two other officers who responded to the scene were also injured, but not by gunfire, Cox said. He did not say how the officers were injured. The two officers were taken by Boston EMS to BMC, where they were recovering late Friday night, said Sergeant Detective John Boyle, the department's chief spokesman.

Boston police officers did not fire any gunshots during the response, Boyle said.

The shooting and injuries to other officers are another example of the "difficult work our officers deal with daily," Cox said.

Dozens of Boston police and State Police vehicles were parked along Albany Street outside the BMC emergency and trauma center. A Boston police cruiser parked in front of the hospital entrance had yellow crime scene tape across its hood.

The cruiser is "part of the investigation," Boyle said.

Mayor Michelle Wu said she was "relieved and grateful to know that the officer is safe and with loved ones."

Wu thanked all public safety officers "who immediately went into action, including fellow officers," as well as the nurses and doctors who attended to the injured officers at BMC.

"We see again and again just how much Boston is really blessed to have first responders who are so professionally well trained and keeping us safe every single day," Wu said.

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, who also addressed reporters, said his office will conduct a "thorough investigation, just as we do for every single shooting."

He added that the officer who was shot had also been an employee of the district attorney's office.

"We’re just happy to know that he's okay," Hayden said of the officer. "Nights like this, as difficult as they are, do pinpoint how difficult and challenging and even dangerous the job of ensuring public safety can be."

The shooting happened shortly before 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Cedric and Magazine streets in Roxbury, police said.

At 10:45 p.m., there was a large police presence in the area of the intersection, and a number of surrounding streets had been blocked off with yellow police tape.

The area, which is home to several industrial type buildings, was largely vacant Friday night, aside from the various police vehicles parked with their blue lights flashing.

Some residents arriving home late Friday night had to be escorted through police tape to get to their homes as a heavy police presence remained on the scene as midnight approached.

Public safety agencies swiftly took to social media to offer support for the officers.

"Tonight, our thoughts are focused on the @bostonpolice officer shot tonight in Roxbury. As always we proudly stand with our BPD brothers and sisters," Mass. State Police said on Twitter.

The union representing Boston firefighters wrote on Twitter, "The membership of Local 718 is thinking of our Brothers & Sisters of the Boston Police Department tonight and wishing their wounded Officer a quick and healthy recovery."

On Twitter, the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association said, "The BPPA is asking for prayers tonight as one of our officers was shot earlier this evening protecting and serving our city. Thankfully, injuries appear to be non-life threatening. But, to be clear, it is NEVER okay to hurt, harm or shoot a police officer,"

Adam Sennott can be reached at [email protected]. Nick Stoico can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @NickStoico. Dugan Arnett can be reached at [email protected].