Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is coming below blistering criticism for sending condolences to the household of a knife-wielding attacker shot and killed by an off-duty police officer who’s credited with saving lives at a Chick-fil-A in Again Bay.
“My condolences and all of our thoughts are with the family of the individual whose life has been lost,” Wu mentioned from the scene Saturday evening, simply hours after the person allegedly charged at two different folks with a knife contained in the busy Copley Sq. restaurant.
The mayor provided her condolences to the attacker earlier than she mentioned she was “thinking of all of the people who were impacted here today” and that she was “glad the officer is safe and very grateful for a quick response from all of our first responders.”
Wu’s feedback have gone viral as folks from throughout the nation, together with outstanding Republican congressmen, tv information hosts, and regulation enforcement help organizations, have criticized the mayor’s response to the “very chaotic situation” on social media.
“Condolences from the mayor of Boston – wait for it – to a knife-wielding man trying to kill people!” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, wrote in an X submit Sunday morning. “Thankfully this guy was stopped in his tracks by a brave law enforcement officer.”
Newsmax host Todd Starnes added: “What about offering condolences to the people who were terrorized by this lunatic? What about praising the off-duty police officer for putting his own life on the line? There could have been a mass casualty incident last night in Boston had it not been for that brave officer. Yet another reminder that Democrats always believe that the criminals are the true victims.”
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Suffolk District Lawyer Kevin Hayden additionally provided their condolences to the person whose identification has not been launched. Cox talked about how his division is “proud of the police officers who activate themselves, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty, to try to save lives.”
“The individual … attempted to stab the two individuals involved,” Cox mentioned from the scene the place a number of callers reported an individual shot on the Chick-fil-A restaurant within the 500-block of Boylston Road simply earlier than 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
“The off-duty officer identified himself as a police officer, instructed him to drop the weapon and at this point the individual did not comply,” Cox continued. “At this point, the individual discharged his weapon to stop the threat and … the armed individual was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced (dead). The off-duty officer was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.”
Boston police unions mentioned Sunday that the officer’s actions saved lives.
“Last night, an ‘off duty’ member of the Boston Police recognized a threat, activated himself and took decisive action to end that threat, likely saving countless lives in the process,” the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society mentioned in a social media submit. “It is a testament to the commitment your officers have to their beloved City and a reminder that they are never truly ‘off duty.’”
Larry Calderone, head of the Boston Police Patrolman’s Affiliation, referred to as “any unexpected loss of life” a “tragedy.” The BPPA, town’s largest police union, endorsed Wu’s mayoral reelection bid final week.
“Our immediate thoughts and prayers go out to our fellow Boston Police Officer and his family, the person who lost his life and his family, and the people who witnessed the attack and are also possibly suffering,” Calderone mentioned in an announcement to the Herald.
“Our officer did what he is trained to do,” Calderone added. “He activated and identified himself, gave verbal commands to drop the knife attempted to de-escalate the situation. But unfortunately, it ended tragically for all involved.”
On the scene, the DA mentioned his workforce, led by the workplace’s chief of murder, was interviewing numerous witnesses who “are cooperating with the investigation” and reviewing a considerable amount of video surveillance footage from in and across the restaurant.
“We have reason to believe — strong reason to believe — there were other individuals who were here who witnessed something and may have been involved,” Hayden mentioned. “We ask them to step forward. We need the help of anyone who knows what happened here … in this very chaotic situation.”
Metropolis Councilor Ed Flynn provided his “thoughts and prayers” to the officer concerned in Saturday’s Boylston Road incident.
“Thank you for your courage, dedication and bravery to keep residents safe,” Flynn mentioned in a social media submit Sunday morning. “We support your heroic action and stand with you and your family.”
This all comes as Wu travels to Washington, D.C., this week, to testify on sanctuary metropolis insurance policies in entrance of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Wednesday.
Initially Printed:
