DORCHESTER — Officers from the Boston Police Department successfully de-escalated a potential suicide-by-cop situation in the early hours of Saturday, saving the life of a 24-year-old Dorchester man who was threatening to shoot himself.
Around 1:30 a.m., on Oct. 5, officers assigned to District C-11 responded to a Shot Spotter activation at 216 Westville St. Upon arrival at the intersection of Geneva Ave. and Westville St., they noticed a man walking away from the scene.
Despite attempts to engage with him, the man ignored the officers and continued walking.
As officers drew nearer, they saw the butt of a firearm protruding from the man’s jacket pocket.
They drew their weapons and commanded him to stop and show his hands.
The man then became emotional and expressed suicidal thoughts.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the officers began to employ de-escalation techniques.
During the standoff, the man pulled the gun from his pocket and aimed it at his own head.
Officers maintained their de-escalation efforts and eventually convinced him to drop the firearm.
He was taken into custody without further incident and treated at a local hospital.
The seized firearm, a Glock 19 Gen 5 without a serial number, was equipped with an extended magazine containing one round in the chamber and 25 additional 9mm rounds.
The man is set to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges including Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License, Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device.
