Police Officer, Father of Two, Continues to Recover

Suspect apprehended in Friday shooting

A Boston police officer identified as Kurt Stokinger, father of two young children, is reportedly "doing well" after being shot in the leg Friday by a suspected drug dealer, and the suspected gunman is in custody, authorities said.

"Our officer is doing well as he continues to recover from his injuries," Boston Police said in a statement released Saturday morning.

The call came in around 10:25 a.m. Friday reporting an officer-involved shooting on Mount Bowdoin Terrace in the city's Dorchester neighborhood, according to Boston police.

Police Officer Shot in Boston

"I heard the police screaming, I heard five shots, look out the window seen the guy running, police right behind him telling him to stop, he kept on going," said Gary Bell, who looked out his window and saw the injured officer bleeding. "He seemed to be OK, he was standing up on the car and I seen blood coming from his leg."

The officer was shot in the leg and the injuries are not life threatening, police said.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said the drug unit officer stopped a suspect who was believed to be dealing drugs, and a shooting ensued. The suspect began to run when approached by the officer and then turned around, pulled a gun from his waistband and fired at the officer.

After being shot, the officer began to lose blood, so he took out a tourniquet and attempted to apply it to stop the bleeding. Another officer assisted him. Boston police have been issuing tourniquets to officers over the past several weeks as part of a new initiative.

Police said the suspect was captured shortly thereafter and the gun - an automatic Glock 40mm - was recovered.

Evans said the suspect's name is Grant Headley, 27, of Dorchester. Evans said Headley is well-known to police and was locked up in 2012 on firearms and drug charges. He was released on probation in April. He is expected to be arraigned next week in the officer's shooting.

"For me, it's like, mind-boggling," said Eric Gilbert, who lives nearby.

Tania Guity lives down the street.

"You could never get used to anything like this no, any violence anything, we're all still in awe if it happens at any given time, we still want to protect our children."

On Geneva, the Head Start daycare went into lockdown mode as the police chase ended nearby.

Mom Christine Clark watched it all unfold from the window as her 4-year-old daughter and her classmates were playing inside.

"There was, like, the guy running down the street, then the police tackled him down to the ground and got him, handcuffed him," she said.

The officer who was shot was a 9-year veteran of the drug unit. Evans said his name is not being released at this time.

"It's unfortunate," Evans said. "I'm just glad the officer's OK."

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke sternly, saying there are "too many guns on the street," and adding that "We're not going to tolerate anyone going after the Boston Police Department."

Pat Rose, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, echoed those comments, saying "We are the targets, and that's wrong... the public should not stand for this."

The injured officer is awake and conscious and talking to medical staff at Boston Medical Center. He is expected to recover.

"In our minds, he's a hero," Evans said.

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