Security footage obtained by the Globe shows a panicked crowd fleeing the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Copley Square Saturday evening as an off-duty police officer shot and killed an alleged knife-wielding attacker.
The video from a neighboring business’s external security camera 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, a flood of customers and employees sprint out of the restaurant, fleeing in all directions.
The timeframe of the video appears to line up with Boston Police Department’s accounting of the shooting, in which officials say two individuals ran into the restaurant in an attempt to escape from a man wielding a knife and trying to stab them.
Authorities said an off-duty Boston officer identified himself and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. When the suspect refused, the officer fired, striking him, officials said.
By 5:30 p.m., footage shows police cruisers pull up to the scene with flashing emergency lights and pedestrians pointing the officers toward the direction of the Chick-fil-A.
Emergency responders transported the wounded man to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The officer was also taken to the hospital for a stress evaluation, Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at a news conference at the scene Saturday evening.
Officials praised the officer for his actions, saying he protected the public.
“We remain grateful to the heroic, off-duty BPD officer who bravely intervened and nullified a knife-wielding attacker intent on harming others and creating chaos,’’ the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association said in a statement. “Thanks to our officer and his courageous decision to quickly activate himself and intervene, lives were undoubtedly saved.’’
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.
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.
Mayor Michelle Wu also offered condolences to the family of the person who was killed, and expressed concern for members of the public who might have been exposed to the violence. Trauma services will be available to those who experienced the incident in the one of the “busier parts of the city,’’ she said.
“Any incidence of violence is deeply impactful,’’ Wu said.
Dan Glaun can be reached at dan.glaun@globe.com. Follow him @dglaun.
