SUSPECT POINTS LOADED MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT RIFLE AT OFFICERS-Officer Discharges Department Firearm and Suspect Receives Non Life-Threatening Wound to Leg

 Last night Boston Police officers from the Youth Violence Strike Force apprehended four dangerous suspects for possession of a loaded military-style assault weapon after suspect points that firearm at officers.

 Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis stated, \”This is a clear case of a group of gang members who were on a mission to carry out a senseless act of violence. The intervention by our courageous officers undoubtedly thwarted a homicide. This level of gun violence is unacceptable and illegal guns must be a priority at all levels of government.\”

 On January 7, 2010 at approximately 11:00pm, officers from the Youth Violence Strike Force attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Adams and East Streets in Dorchester. The car, a Chrysler PT cruiser, however refused to stop for officers and fled at a high rate of speed. At Freeport St. near Morrissey Blvd. the suspect motor vehicle failed to negotiate a left hand turn onto the 93 South on-ramp and lost control crashing into the guard rail.

 At this point, all of the occupants of the car except for a rear passenger fled. Officers apprehended the suspect left in the car while others pursued the other three suspects. During the pursuit of one of the suspects, officers observed him to be in possession of an assault rifle and commanded him to drop it numerous times. The suspect ignored officers’ commands and instead turned and pointed the rifle in the direction of the officers. As a result of the suspect’s actions, one officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect in the leg. The suspect was transported to Boston Medical Center with a non-life threatening injury.

 The other suspects were all apprehended and placed under arrest.  The operator of the car, Osvaldir Mendes, 23 of Dorchester was arrested and charged with Refusal to Submit/Stop for Officers, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Machine Gun, Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Resisting Arrest, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Being and Armed Career Criminal and a host of other motor vehicle violations. Two other suspects, Takari Elliott, 18, of Dorchester and Daronde Bethea, 18, of Milton were also arrested and charged Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Machine Gun, Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, Possession of Loaded Firearm and Resisting Arrest. The suspect who pointed the rifle at officers and remains at the hospital, Marvin Veiga, 21, of Dorchester will be charged with two counts of Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Carrying a Large Capacity Rifle on a public way, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Machine Gun, Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, Possession of Loaded Firearm and Resisting Arrest.

 Officers recovered a loaded military style assault rifle from the scene as well as a .40 caliber handgun and approximately forty rounds of ammunition and several face masks.