Police: Man stood in the middle of Boylston Street in the Fenway demanding cops shoot him, then slashed his own throat

Boston Police report officers were able to help save a man after he blocked traffic outside Guitar Center on Boylston Street and then, when they refused his demand they shoot him, slashed his throat with a box cutter shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Police say that when officers arrived, the man was standing in the middle of the street with a box cutter in one hand:

Officers spoke to the male and attempted to coerce him into stepping onto the sidewalk from the middle of the street. The male refused officers’ requests and held the box cutter to his throat screaming that he wanted to die. The male stated multiple times that he wanted the officers to shoot him. The male shouted for the officers to stop following him. At this time, additional officers arrived on scene in an effort to deter the male from enacting harm on himself. Officers used a multitude of de-escalation tactics in an effort to prevent the male from hurting himself or others. Suddenly, the male ran down Boylston Street with the box cutter in hand, before raising the box cutter to his neck and cutting his throat. Officers ran towards the male and immediately began rendering life saving aid, securing the box cutter in the process.

Police say Boston EMS transported the man to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were not considered life threatening.