A man who was shot and killed by an off-duty Boston police officer inside a Chick-fil-A in Copley Square over the weekend has been identified as Lemark Jaramillo. The incident unfolded when Jaramillo allegedly ran into the restaurant at 569 Boylston St., chasing two individuals he was attempting to stab, according to police reports.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox stated that the off-duty officer, who happened to be present at the time, intervened and ordered Jaramillo to drop his weapon. When Jaramillo refused to comply, the officer discharged his firearm to stop the imminent threat.
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“The officer then discharged his weapon to stop the threat, and the armed man was struck. He was then taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced [dead]. The officer was transported to a hospital for evaluation, but at this time, there are no other reported injuries,” Cox said.
Jaramillo’s family has expressed shock and sorrow over his sudden passing, asserting that he was not a violent individual and was not a threat to the community.
“He is not a bad person. He is not a violent person,” a family member stated. “As his family, we feel horrible for anyone who was in the restaurant at the time. Our hearts go out to the police officer who was in that position, to him and his family.”
The family also mentioned that they had not seen Jaramillo in months and that he had been living in Roslindale for some time.
Video footage from a surveillance camera near the restaurant captured a chaotic scene, showing employees and customers fleeing the establishment as the incident unfolded. Three minutes later, emergency responders arrived at the scene to secure the area and provide assistance.
Boston Police Commissioner Cox described the situation as tragic, expressing condolences to Jaramillo’s family while also praising the officer’s decisive actions.
“This is a pretty tragic incident,” Cox said. “We don’t look for loss of life, and our condolences go out to the family of the individual. We are also proud of our police officers, whether on duty or off duty, who activate themselves to help save lives.”
The officer involved, whose name has not been released, is reportedly in stable condition and did not sustain any life-threatening injuries.
Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone commended the officer’s bravery, highlighting how unpredictable and dangerous situations can arise suddenly.
“That officer (Saturday night) was incredibly brave — took a stance. He was out for a quick bite to eat, picking up a package, and as we know, all hell can break loose at any minute,” Calderone said.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
“We need the help of anybody who knows what happened here so we can get to the bottom of what happened in this very chaotic situation,” Hayden stated.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu expressed her concern for those affected by the incident and praised the quick response of first responders.
“I am very grateful for a quick response from all of our first responders here in such an active part of Boston,” Wu said. “We know any act of violence is deeply impactful. We want to make sure that everyone knows the city has trauma services available for those who are victims of crime.”
Meg Mainzer, President of the Back Bay Association, also released a statement, acknowledging the community’s concerns and stating that they would seek further clarification from the Boston Police Department about the incident.
“We are concerned about this act of violence and will look forward to meeting with the Boston Police Department to learn more about the incident,” Mainzer said.
The Boston Police Department has asked any additional witnesses, particularly those with video footage of the incident, to come forward to aid in the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the Chick-fil-A location where the incident occurred has announced plans to reopen on Tuesday.
This remains a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
