BOSTON — Boston Police Officers shot and killed a man after they say he attacked medical personnel sent to help him.
Family members have identified Terrence Coleman as the man who was shot after he attacked emergency responders with a knife shortly after they showed up around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the South End.
Boston police and the District Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting inside a brownstone on Shawmut Avenue.
Police Commissioner Bill Evans told FOX25 Coleman's mother called 911 shortly after midnight to report her son was emotionally disturbed.
According to Evans, the 31-year-old man has a history of paranoid schizophrenia.
When EMS and Boston police arrived, medical personnel went inside the brownstone first. Evans said Coleman started to struggle with them and pulled out a knife.
The officers who were waiting outside then came in to help, and that's when Evans says the situation escalated.
"He swung repeatedly at the officers with the knife and unfortunately the officers had no choice and they fired and they killed the individual," Commissioner Evans said.
According to a news release, the officers attempted to disarm the Coleman but were unable to in the scuffle.
The family of Coleman said he did not have a knife and they are disputing the police's account.
Evans also said the responding officers were injured during the attack and two medical responders also had injuries to their heads and backs.
The Suffolk County District Attorney is investigating, per protocol.
Cox Media Group
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