Boston cops shot at again

A man about to be questioned by police about an alleged drug transaction early this morning instead ran and when cornered, fired a round at two pursuing officers, who then returned fire, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office says.

Neither the officers nor the suspect, Anthony Toombs, 21, were injured in the gunfire exchange around 1 a.m. in Puddingstone Park on Seaver Street, the DA's office says.

According to the DA's office:

Members of the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force were engaged in a gang investigation when they observed an apparent drug transaction near the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Pasadena Road at about 12:50 a.m. As the officers watched, a man later identified as Toombs approached the seller in that transaction. As officers surveilled them, the two entered Stash's Pizza and, a short time later, began walking up Blue Hill Avenue.

Officers approached them in an unmarked cruiser. Two officers, both wearing badges outside their clothing and one of them wearing a vest marked "Boston Police," exited the vehicle and asked if they could speak to the men. The man believed to be the seller in the earlier transaction stopped; Toombs began to run.

The DA's office continues that after the exchange of gunfire:

Toombs allegedly tossed the gun over the fence and went to the ground. He complied with orders to show officers his hands, but allegedly struggled with another officer who attempted to place him in custody. Toombs is charged with assaulting that officer with his fist.

Additional officers recovered the gun Toombs allegedly used, a Hi-Point Model C-9 9mm semiautomatic loaded with 8 rounds of ammunition.

Dorchester District Court Judge Jonathan Tynes agreed with a request from prosecutors to set bail at $750,000 on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, unlawfully discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a public employee, resisting arrest and trespassing.

On Aug. 7, two officers were shot and a suspect killed in a gun battle on Dorchester Avenue.

Innocent, etc.