Quincy shooting called 'suicide by cop'

The 65-year-old man shot dead by police had lunged at an officer with a bloody knife in what authorities called a desperate episode of ``suicide by cop.'' Two patrol officers fired three shots at James Hart, hitting him twice, after he charged out from a poolside cabana behind his home at 32 Grand View Ave. in the Wollaston section, Norfolk District Attorney William Keating said. Hart was prnounced dead at Boston Medical Center. Six Quincy officers were placed on paid leave after the shooting, which occurred just after 10 am yesterday when police responded to a 911 call from family members. They told police Hart had cut himself in an attempt at suicide. Placing officers on leave is standard practice after a shooting. Keating called the shooting justified based on initial findings by the State Police. He said the officers attempted to disarm Hart using ``nonlethal means,'' including pepper spray. But when Hart, who had goaded police to shoot him, charged out from the cabana and bore down on an officer with a 12-inch kitchen knife, two other officers opened fire, Keating said. Hart came ``close enough so (the officer's) life was in danger.'' It was the first time since 1975 that Quincy police had shot and killed anyone. Police Chief Robert Crowley declined to name the officers temporarily taken off duty. They will undergo stress counseling, he said. ``We're letting the officers take as much time as necessary to get over this,'' Crowley said. Police sources said patrol ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CTxpOP0uvE&hl=en