Boston Police Officer Fires Gun During Shootout

(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Boston) - Warren Street opened just after 6 p.m., but officers remained on scene four and a half hours after a shootout in Roxbury.

Chaos reigned across two city streets, right in the middle of the day.

"I heard like 15 to 20 shots. I initially thought it was fireworks, but then there was an elderly woman cowering in the corner of my doorway. I went downstairs to check on her and ask her what happened and she said 'they're shooting, they're shooting,'" said Kenny Roberts, who lives in an apartment building a half block away.

Just before 3 p.m. in Roxbury, not far from Dudley Square, three police officers from the youth violence strike force saw a group of four or five men carrying guns at the corner of Warren and Waverly Streets.

As they stopped their car, another group fired shots from the stairs across the street.

"At one point, one of the suspects pointed a weapon towards one of the officers. At least one officer discharged a firearm at the suspects," said Boston Police Superintendent in Charge Dan Linskey.

Police say one suspect was hit in the hand, but it is not clear who shot him.

He was located two blocks away.

At least two other men were taken into custody and questioned about their involvement in the shootout.

The streets were blocked off for hours.

One handgun was recovered.

"It was a harrowing scene and the officers did an amazing job and maintained their professionalism to bring it under control," Linskey said.  

A few hours later, Boston firefighters arrived with a ladder truck so crime scene investigators could take pictures from the air.

On the ground, people needed to find another way past the blocked off road, seemingly apathetic about another crime scene in this part of the city.

"It's getting old now. You can't even walk home without somebody getting shot. So it’s ridiculous. It is, it's sad, it's too often, it's every day, every day in your neighborhood," said Chanelle Berryman of Dorchester.

One man was placed under arrest.

Police hope surveillance video they have from the scene will help them solve the case.