The Suffolk County District Attorney's office announced today that Boston Police officers acted "lawfully and reasonably" when they used their guns to bring down an out-of-control Marquis Barker, who seemed desperate to commit suicide by cop after an argument with his wife in November, 2007:
At the time he pointed that air pistol, which is designed and marketed as a detailed and realistic replica of an actual handgun, at the officers, Barker had stolen a Boston Police cruiser, had been the subject of multiple 911 calls for a man with a gun, had threatened to kill himself, and had refused repeated orders to drop his weapon.
The DA's office says police tried repeatedly to end their confrontation with Barker peacefully even as he begged them to shoot him and that it was only after he crashed the police cruiser he'd stolen in the parking lot of a Mattapan Walgreens and then pointed what appeared to be a real gun at one officer that three other officers opened fire, killing him.
DA Dan Conley's letter to Police Commissioner Ed Davis on the matter, detailing events leading to Barker's death.
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