Lowell, Massachusetts, Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Placed on Leave

The department said it is standard procedure for the officers to be placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation

Lowell Police said the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of a suspect last weekend have been placed on administrative leave.

The officers have been identified as Chase Suong and Guillermo Rojas. Suong has been with the department since 2010 and is assigned to the gang unit. Rojas has been with the department since 2012 and is assigned as a district response officer.

The department said it is standard operating procedure for officers involved in a shooting to be placed on leave until the investigation into the incident is completed.

Jose Perez, 39, of Lowell, was shot and killed by police after he charged at officers with a knife and meat cleaver around 11 p.m. on Saturday night.

Two 911 callers said Perez was "threatening to kill everyone."

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