Boston Police Identify Veteran Officers Injured In East Boston Shootout
BOSTON (CBS) – Two veterans of the Boston Police Department have been identified as the officers seriously injured late Wednesday night during a shootout with an armed man inside an East Boston home.
Officer Richard Cintolo and Officer Matt Morris have been upgraded to stable condition following a violent confrontation on Gladstone Street.
Cintolo is a 27-year veteran of the department while Morris has been an officer for 12 years.
"They're recovering, which is really good news," said Evans.
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Evans said officers responded to the home after a man called 911 and said his roommate, 33-year-old Kirk Figueroa was threatening him with a knife. The confrontation may have started after an argument over the home's thermostat.
When Morris and Cintolo went into the house to investigate, police say Figueroa opened fire with a tactical shotgun.
Figueroa was shot and killed by officers.
Morris was shot in the leg and the bullet struck a main artery. As a result, he lost a large amount of blood.
Hearing the gunfire in the home, responding officers ran inside to provide critical first aid to Cintolo and Morris.
"I've got to commend the officers for rushing into that building with no fear whatsoever to rescue two fellow officers," said Evans.
Mayor Marty Walsh praised the Boston Police Department for its fast response to the shooting.
"When an officer goes out to work in the morning, they think they're going to come home that night. For 27 years, Richie did. For 12 years Matt did. They weren't able to go home last night after their shift," said Walsh.
"Thank God they will be going home sometime soon. But this is dangerous work. So I want to commend the men and women of the Boston Police Department for the tremendous work they did."
East Boston resident Bob Ryan knew both injured officers.
"They're guys you would want to know," said Ryan. "They didn't deserve that, that's for sure."
