Boston police shoot and kill man in Brighton

Boston police shot and killed a man wielding a large knife during a mental health crisis in Brighton on Friday morning. Officers responded to a call at 24 Selkirk Road around 7 a.m. regarding an individual threatening self-harm.

According to Police Commissioner Michael Cox, officers attempted to de-escalate the situation for approximately 20 minutes. The confrontation escalated when the man lunged at officers on a front porch, prompting an officer to fire a single shot to the abdomen. The man was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Two officers were hospitalized for stress evaluation following the incident. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether the shooting was justified and noted that police body camera footage will be a critical component of the inquiry.