Report: Suspect who shot Boston officers was city constable

BOSTON -- A man wearing body armor and armed with an assault rifle shot two Boston police officers responding to a report of a domestic disturbance at his home before being shot and killed by other officers, police said.

The suspect was identified as Kirk Figueroa, 33, of East Boston. The Boston City Clerk’s Office confirmed to CBS Boston that Figueroa was a constable for the city, and was sworn in in July.

A car with the name of a website was towed from the shooting scene Thursday morning. On the website, elitepolicing.org, a man who identifies himself as Kirk Figueroa says his company, Code Blue Protection Corp., provides police support, fugitive apprehension and extradition services, and armored car training.

Figueroa described himself as a Boston constable, a former member of a U.S. Army Reserve military police unit, a bounty hunter in California and a former corrections officer. He also said he was trained in mixed martial arts. Constables are authorized to serve subpoenas and other legal documents.

The wounded officers were in “extremely critical condition” but out of surgery and with their families on Thursday morning, Police Commissioner William Evans said.

“Domestic calls, as you know, are probably the most volatile. You never really know what you’re walking into,” Evans said. “And I think we see right now the dangers of our job.”

Evans told CBS Boston he was told the surgeries went well. Both had several blood transfusions.

“They’re still critical and everybody’s pulling for them,” Evans told the station. “We’re asking for everyone’s prayers to help pull them through.”

Evans said Figueroa fired at the officers late Wednesday night shortly after they arrived at his home in the city’s East Boston neighborhood. Police were called there on a report of an argument between two roommates, the station reports.

Several other officers who were stationed outside ran inside and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. 

“Two of the officers dragged their fellow officers out of the line of fire so they were in a protected zone, and the officers continued to engage in a gun exchange,” Evans said.

The officers shot and killed the suspect and then began administering first aid to the wounded officers, one a 28-year veteran, the other a 12-year veteran of the force.

“One officer had his hand in one of the wounds and I think that was instrumental in getting the officer down to Mass General quickly,” Evans said.

Both officers were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where they were being treated for serious injuries. Nine other officers were being treated at Tufts Medical Center for trauma, stress and minor injuries.

Police, initially concerned that there might be a second suspect, ordered residents to shelter in place. That order was later lifted.

Police did not release the names of the wounded officers.

As is standard protocol following such events, the district attorney’s office said there would be an investigation into the use of deadly force.

“They ran into a firefight here, able to pull two of their officers out safely, and again unfortunately, we had to take a life in doing it,” Evans said.