A Boston police officer was saved by his bullet-proof vest after being shot in the chest in Dorchester allegedly by a suspected cocaine dealer armed to the teeth.
Police Commissioner Michael Cox said late Monday night that it was “another heroic act” by the BPD with nobody else injured and a suspect immediately taken into custody.
UPDATE: This morning police identified the shooting at Avery Lewis, 31, of Dorchester. He faces a slew of drug and gun charges, including trafficking in cocaine (36 grams of it).
The charges just posted by police include: armed assault to murder, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammo and unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device. He was held without bail at his arraignment.
The injured officer was rushed to Boston Medical Center for non-life-threatening injures where he is recovering.
“We’re very fortunate our officer is going to be fine,” Cox told reporters outside BMC. “This is a difficult, difficult job. There are more guns than people in this country and the wrong people have guns.”
He praised the restraint the officers showed adding the suspect will be arraigned in Dorchester District Court sometime today.
Cox said police responded to Esmond Street near Franklin Park at 9:34 p.m. for a 911 call for a person “potentially having a gun.” When police arrived he said the suspect fired one shot hitting the officer in the chest.
The commissioner also praised emergency workers who transported the office to nearby BMC. The hospital was soon quickly surrounded by fellow BPD officers.
The officer has been on the force for about two years and “followed his training,” Cox stressed.
Mayor Michelle Wu also visited the officer at BMC and said that the shooting is “another reminder of all that officers and their families put on the line for our city.” She also told reporters she was “thankful” to be able to visit with the injured officer.
DA Kevin Hayden, who said more will come out at the arraignment, added he’s also “thankful to God” the patrolman is “alive and well.”
Details of the call to a house on Esmond Street were limited last night. The DA said it was too early to go into details ahead of the arraignment.
