Security footage obtained by the Globe shows a panicked crowd fleeing the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Copley Square Saturday evening at about the time an off-duty police officer shot and killed a person police say was wielding a knife and trying to stab people.
On Saturday police said a man with a knife chased two people into the Chick-fil-A on Boylston Street around 5:30 p.m. and was shot after refusing to drop the knife.
The timeframe of the video the Globe obtained appears to line up with Boston Police Department’s account of the shooting.
The video from the security camera at a neighboring business shows two people running into the Chick-fil-A at about 5:26 p.m. — one person running on the sidewalk and a second running from the bike lane. Two more people enter the restaurant shortly after, the video shows.
Twenty five seconds later, the video shows a flood of customers and employees sprint out of the restaurant, fleeing in all directions.
Authorities said an off-duty Boston officer identified himself and ordered the man with the knife to drop his weapon. When he refused, the officer fired, striking him, according to the police department’s account.
The security video shows that at 5:30 p.m., police cruisers arrived with flashing emergency lights while pedestrians pointed the officers toward the Chick-fil-A.
The man shot by the off-duty officer was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The officer was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated for psychological stress, Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at a news conference Saturday evening.
The DA’s Office is leading the investigation, as is standard practice for fatal police shootings. Officials believe additional witnesses may have information and are urging them to come forward. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the individual who was lost,” District Attorney Kevin Hayden said at the news conference.
Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, said his thoughts were with the off-duty officer, the deceased man, both of their families, and people who witnessed the attack.
“Our officer did what he is trained to do. He activated and identified himself and gave verbal commands in a heroic effort to deescalate an incredibly dangerous situation,” Calderone said in a statement. “But unfortunately, it ended tragically for all involved.”
The Boston Police Detective’s Union released a statement crediting the officer for saving lives with his “decisive action.”
Authorities have not released the name of the deceased man, who was 32 years old, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office. The officer who fired at him has also not been publicly identified. The incident occurred in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, across the street from Trinity Church and a block from the Boston Public Library’s central branch.
Mayor Michelle Wu also offered condolences to the family of the man shot by the officer and expressed concern for members of the public who might have been exposed to the violence. Trauma services will be available to those who witnessed the incident, she said.
“Any incidence of violence is deeply impactful,” Wu said.