Two officers were injured and three people were arrested after Boston police fired their guns in Chinatown early Monday morning.
Officers responded to reports of a person with a gun inside a grey SUV at 9 Tyler Street around 2 a.m. The car struck two other parked cars and Boston police discharged their firearms. The suspects were not hit by gunfire, police said. A firearm was found on scene.
"Officers approached the vehicle -- they observed and approached the vehicle. The vehicle subsequently struck two parked motor vehicles. Two officers did discharge their firearm," Boston Police Deputy Supt. Felipe Colon said. "No suspects were struck."
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Two officers were taken to Boston Medical Center with minor injuries. They have since been treated and released.
The three people who were arrested were arraigned later Monday in Boston Municipal Court on various charges including possession of a large capacity firearm, possession or ammunition and failing to stop for police.
Prosecutors say police cornered the three men on Tyler Street in an SUV and told them to get out of the vehicle. They allegedly refused.
”After several commands, that vehicle accelerated very quickly toward the officers. One of them jumping out of the way to avoid being struck and another actually being struck as well as a civilian's motor vehicle,” Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Daniel Nucci said in court.
After the vehicle drove away, investigator say the SUV came to a stop after crashing a second time. That’s when the defendants eventually surrendered and authorities say they spotted a gun with a large magazine under the front driver’s seat.
Besides the officers, nobody was hurt. A lot people were at home, watching the chaos unfold from their apartments. Others were eating in the neighborhood restaurants and found themselves locked down for hours.
The dramatic scene was caught on cellphone video.
"I heard four shots. And then all the police leaning against my car, and trying to shoot...I just run back in and hide under the table," one witness shared.
One of the defendants -- the driver of the vehicle -- has been held pending a dangerousness hearing. The other two have been released on bail.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
