2 Boston police officers in critical condition after shot by man in body armor

BOSTON – A man wearing body armor and armed with an assault rifle shot two Boston police officers who were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance, before being shot and killed by other officers, police said.

The wounded officers were in “extremely critical condition” but out of surgery and with their families on Thursday morning, Police Commissioner William Evans said.

“Domestic calls, as you know, are probably the most volatile. You never really know what you’re walking into,” Evans said. “And I think we see right now the dangers of our job.”

The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Kirk Figueroa, who lived in the neighborhood.

The injured officers were out of surgery by Thursday morning. Their names have not been released

Mayor Marty Walsh says they the officers are still in critical condition but “better than they were last night.”

Evans said Figueroa fired at the officers late Wednesday night shortly after they arrived at a home in the city’s East Boston neighborhood. Several other officers who were stationed outside ran inside and exchanged gunfire with the suspect.

“Two of the officers dragged their fellow officers out of the line of fire so they were in a protected zone, and the officers continued to engage in a gun exchange,” Evans said.

The officers shot and killed the suspect and then began administering first aid to the wounded officers, one a 28-year veteran, the other a 12-year veteran of the force.

“One officer had his hand in one of the wounds and I think that was instrumental in getting the officer down to Mass General quickly,” Evans said.

Both officers were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where they were being treated for serious injuries. Nine other officers were being treated at Tufts Medical Center for trauma, stress and minor injuries.

Police, initially concerned that their might be a second suspect, ordered residents to shelter in place. That order was later lifted.

Police did not release the names of the wounded officers.

As is standard protocol following such events, the district attorney’s office said there would be an investigation into the use of deadly force.

“They ran into a firefight here, able to pull two of their officers out safely, and again unfortunately, we had to take a life in doing it,” Evans said.