Boston Police Officer Shot In South End, 3 In Custody

BOSTON, MA —Three men are in custody after a Boston Police officer was shot Sunday afternoon in the city’s South End. Police said the officer was taken to Brigham and Women's with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the calf.

"We're highly upset at this," said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, who described getting the news that one of his officers was shot as "heart-wrenching."

UPDATE>> 2 Arrested After Boston Officer Shot

The shooting happened before 2 p.m. near 89 West Springfield St. Gross told reporters at a press conference that officers were on a regular patrol when they stopped to check out a car that was double-parked with music blaring.

The officers saw three young men sitting on a stoop nearby. They made eye contact and the men got up, clutched at their waists and started to leave, according to the commissioner.

"These officers are trained: characteristics of an armed gunman, you get up, you clutch [at] your waist; usually it's a gun," said the commissioner. "Unfortunately it was true. It was definitely a firearm."

The commissioner said it's unclear how many shots were fired, but at least one bullet struck the officer.

The SWAT team and hostage negotiators were called in when the men went into an apartment.

"Thankfully, it came to a peaceful resolution with the suspect taken into custody with no injuries, no further shots fired... beyond our officer getting shot," said Gross.

"It's dangerous to be a cop any day," said Gross. "But it is our job to patrol and protect the people of Boston. Unfortunately some people take that out against us."

Gross said this highlighted what he said was too many guns on the streets.

"But we really have to concentrate on us all working together," he said. "I just wish we had unilateral gun laws between Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine; that they were just as strict as Massachusetts."

Several residents told Patch they didn't hear any gunshots. One resident who said she's lived on West Springfield for a couple of decades described her neighborhood as a safe one.

"It's terrible. Nothing like this has ever happened in this neighborhood," said Susan Butler of West Springfield Street.

This is a breaking news alert more to come as soon as it's available.

UPDATE: 2 Arrested After Boston Officer Shot: Police

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Photo by Jenna Fisher, Patch Staff