Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Unknown Male, 26

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Lexington, MA Mason Street April 18, 2026 Unknown Race | Male | 26 Years Old Lexington Police Department / North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLC) Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife An as of yet unidentified Lexington resident was fatally shot by a police officer outside his home on Mason Street around 1:40 p.m. on Saturday 4/18/26 according to the Middlesex County district attorney. Authorities have not named the victim, but said he was a 26-year-old male. The family is asking for privacy to grieve. The man is reported to have injured himself with a large kitchen knife, prompting another person at the house called the local police. LPD officers responded first and officers of the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, or NEMLEC, responded next. Status: Unknown Sources The Lexington Observer Boston Globe WCVB Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Lexington MALexington Police DepartmentNEMLEC

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Jacob Graves, 29

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Boston, MA 212 Hemenway St. April 4, 2026 White | Male | 29 Years Old Boston Police Mental Health Crisis Armed: Sword Boston police shoot, kill man, now identified as Jacob Graves, 29 of New Hampshire who allegedly stabbed officer with sword near NU campus while experiencing ‘mental health crisis,’ police say. Boston police on Saturday shot and killed a man who stabbed an officer with a sword amid a “mental health crisis” at an apartment building near Northeastern University, officials said. The shooting followed “an extended period of time” estimated at 45 minutes or longer during which police spoke with the man through the door of an apartment at 212 Hemenway St., Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at a Saturday afternoon news conference. An emergency medical services clinician was with officers at the apartment building, he said. Earlier, at 10:44 a.m., police believe the same man placed a 911 call during which he reported four people armed with a firearm were “looking to harm him,” Cox said. This is a developing story. Status: Unknown Sources Boston Globe Boston Globe:  Police ID Victim Boston.com The Huntington News NBC 10 Obituary Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Sayed Faisal, 20

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Cambridge,MA Chestnut St. and  Sidney St. March 11, 2026 Bangladeshi | Male | 20 Years Old Cambridge Police Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife Authorities say a man armed with a knife was killed in a police shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Police say they were called to the area of Chestnut and Sidney streets to investigate the report of the man who appeared to be in distress. During the confrontation, a Cambridge Police officer shot the man, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office said. Status: Unknown Sources WCVB 5 NBC Boston Boston Globe The Business Post Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Cambridge MACambridge Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Brendan Reilly, 35

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Lexington, MA Hancock Street February 12, 2022 White | Male | 35 Years Old Lexington Police Department Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife On February 12, 2022, at around noon, a jogger placed a 911 call reporting that a man was leaning out of the window of a house on Hancock Street screaming that someone was trying to kill him. Police arrived on the scene to find 35 year old Brendan Reilly holding a kitchen knife in the backyard of the house, a group home for people with addiction and mental health issues. According to police, officers repeatedly asked Reilly to drop the knife; when he failed to comply, they began firing bean bags rounds at him. In the commotion, Officer Steven Papia slipped and fell to the ground. Reilly allegedly advanced toward the fallen officer with the knife, and another officer, Joseph Carruthers, shot Reilly four times with his department-issued Glock 17 firearm. Reilly was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead later that afternoon. The family filed a wrongful death suit against the Town of Lexington, the officers involved and the company which managed the group home where Reilly was living at the time. Status: Ruled as Justified by Middlesex DA Sources The Lexington Observer Middlesex DA Inquest Findings | Report WHDH Boston 25 News Boston Herald Fall River Reporter Obituary Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Lexington MALexington Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Thomas Celona, 35

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Winchester, MA Parkview Apartments November 3, 2020 White | Male | 35 Years Old Winchester Police Department Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife Police shot and killed a knife-wielding man inside a Winchester apartment building on Monday night, police and prosecutors said in a statement. Winchester police responded to the Parkview Apartments just after 8 p.m. after a security guard called 911 to report that a male resident of the building had reported an issue in his unit, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Winchester police Chief Peter MacDonnell said. According to the preliminary investigation, three officers heard noise coming from inside and when they entered saw the man, identified as Thomas Celona, 35, brandishing two knives, according to the statement. Police told him to drop the knives and twice used an electronic stun gun on him without success, according to the statement. Celona, still holding the knives, continued to approach the officers and one officer opened fire, striking the man. He was taken to the hospital where he died.  Status: Ruled Justified Sources WCVB Boston Globe: Ruled Justified WBUR Boston.com NBC Boston WCVB: Family Speaks Out 7 News Boston MassLive  Inquest Report WCVB: De-escalation Patch Boston Globe Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Arlington MAArlington Police Department

Terrance Coleman
Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Terrence Coleman, 31

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Boston, MA 245 Shawmut Ave. October 30, 2016 Black | Male | 31 Years Old Boston Police Department Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife (Disputed) Coleman’s mother said she called for an ambulance to take her son to the hospital after he refused to leave the front porch for two days. Authorities said Coleman was suffering from paranoia and schizophrenia. Officers fatally shot Coleman after he attacked EMTs with a knife, according to the police account. Coleman’s mother says her son was not armed or violent when police shot him. Status: Unknown Sources The Counted Boston Globe Boston Globe CBS Boston WBUR Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Santos Laboy, 45

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Boston, MA Charles River Esplanade February 12, 2016 Latino | Male | 45 Years Old Massachusetts State Police Armed: Knife Laboy, who was wanted on unspecified warrants, allegedly ran from police before brandishing a knife at a Massachusetts state trooper and refusing commands to drop it. Status: Under Investigation Sources Boston Globe Boston Globe Boston Globe CBS Boston WDHD Boston The Counted Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or Blade Boston MAMassachusetts State Police

Usaamah Rahim
Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, 26

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Boston, MA 4600 Washington St.Roslindale June 2, 2015 Black | Male | 26 Boston Police Department and FBI Armed: Knife Usaamah Rahim was under surveillance by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and was approached by FBI & BPD while on his way to work. Officers say Rahim lunged at them with a military style knife and they were forced to shoot him. Subsequently, Suffolk DA releases video footage of the encounter which is grainy and blurry at best. Family and advocates have questions as to his reported 2 yr. surveillance, was the initial stop even justified, as well as the necessity to kill him. Status: Ruled Justified Sources The Counted The Guardian Boston Globe NBC News New England Cable News WBUR Video Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or Blade Boston MABoston Police DepartmentFBIFederal Bureau of Investigation

Remis Andrews
Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Remis M. Andrews, 38

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Boston, MA Massachusetts Ave. and Tremont St. April 5, 2014 Black | Male | 38 Years Old Boston Police Department Armed: Knife Remis M. Andrews, 38, of Boston was shot and killed after allegedly lunging at officers with knives while they were attempting to arrest him. The shooting took place after police received a 911 call from a woman who said she was being assaulted by her boyfriend at 77 Lenox St. in the South End. A Boston police officer shot and killed a man who allegedly lunged at officers with knives. The shooting took place after police received a 911 call from a woman who said she was being assaulted by her boyfriend at 77 Lenox St. in the South End. The officers attempted to place the suspect under arrest, at which time the suspect armed himself with multiple knives and lunged at the officers. One of the officers discharged his weapon striking and killing the suspect. Status: Ruled Justified Sources CBS Boston Boston Globe Boston Globe BPD News Report on Findings (Suffolk DA) Killed by Police Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or Blade Boston MAMassachusetts State Police

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Luis Gonzalez, 57

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Boston, MA 626 Tremont St. South End July 2, 2004 Latino | Male | 57 Years Old Boston Police Department Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife Gonzalez, 57, who weighed no more than 110 pounds, was fatally shot inside the Tremont Street apartment he shared with his mentally disabled sister by two cops as he approached them with a knife. Neighbors said they told police the Puerto Rican native was mentally ill before they entered his apartment. Status: No Charges Filed Sources Letter to Police Commissioner (Suffolk DA) AP AP Boston Globe WGBH The Crime Report Getty Images Blackstonian Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

LaVeta Jackson, 36

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Boston, MA 124 Milton Avenue July 2, 2002 Black | Female | 36 Years Old Boston Police Department Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife On July 2, 2002 Boston Police shot and killed LaVeta Jackson in her home. She suffered from mental illness. 3 officers fired 15-20 rounds. Police encountered a psychotic Jackson in the cellar of her residence after she had killed her own two young children with a knife. She lunged at officers with the same knife and she was shot to death. Status: Ruled Justified Sources Boston Globe (Op-Ed) Boston Globe Boston Globe (Archive) Fatal Encounters Deadly Force Boston Globe Press Release (City of Boston) Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Rene Romain, 19

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Boston, MA Mattapan T Station July 15, 2001 Black| Male | 19 Years Old Boston Police Department Armed: Knife A Boston Globe article reported that a the mother of a Mattapan teenager, after seeing the medical report on her son, claims he was shot in the back last summer without justification by Boston police. Carline Seide-Murphy said the Boston Police first reported that her son suffered a fatal wound to the abdomen. The medical report said her 19-year-old son, Rene Romain, was shot in the back July 15 at the Mattapan Square T station. The police said Romain had threatened two officers with a knife but Family say medical records show Boston police shot man in back. Status: Unknown Sources AP AP Mass Live Boston Herald Autopsy Report (City of Boston) Boston Herald (Archive) Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or Blade Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade, Mental Health Crisis

Jose Pineda, 31

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Boston, MA East Boston May 29, 2001 Latino | Male | 31 Years Old Boston Police Mental Health Crisis Armed: Knife Jose Pineda, a Salvadoran immigrant who was shot and killed by plaintclothes Boston Police in East Boston. An officer shot Pineda, 31, after he stabbed a plainclothes detective in the leg in 2001. The East Boston man’s family said he was mentally ill and intoxicated at the time. He spoke little English and there were doubts that he understood commands to stop running away from police and drop his weapon. He had been mugged twice in that area, leading his family to believe that Pineda thought it was happening again. Status: Unknown Sources Boston Herald (Letters) Mass Live Related Cases ArmedArmed: Knife, Sword or BladeMental Health Crisis Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed - Disputed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Nathaniel Lackland, 25

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Boston, MA Jamaica Plain June 5, 1991 Black | Male | 25 Years Old Boston Police Department Armed: Gun In June of 1991, Nathaniel Lackland, was shot in back of head by Boston police officer Leo J. Ronan. The officer claimed that he was defending himself against Lackland. According to his testimony, the 25-year-old father of three was allegedly slashing at him with knife inside hallway of a Jamaica Plain housing development, and Ronan fired one bullet into the back of his head. The Suffolk County District Attorney, which at the time was Newman A. Flanagan, determined the killing as self-defense, and thus a “justifiable homicide.” Lackland’s family filed a wrongful death civil rights lawsuit, demanding to know how he could have been shot directly in the back of the head while supposedly facing the officer. After weeks of deliberation, in what many family members and activists saw as collusion between the Boston Police and District Attorney’s office, Ronan was exonerated from wrong doing. Flanagan determined that the bullet wound was result of Lackland twisting around from misplaced “roundhouse swing of his knife. Status: Ruled Justified Sources Aren R. Lebrun Related Cases Armed – DisputedArmed: Knife, Sword or Blade Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed - Disputed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Vincent Mancuso, 18

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Boston, MA South Boston May 1, 1986 White | Male | 18 Years Old Boston Police Department Armed: Knife (Disputed) Mancuso was shot in the back of the head by Boston Police officer Joseph Quinn after police said Mancuso stole a vehicle, led police on a short car chase, and then lunged at Quinn with a knife. Mancuso died several days later. * In the case of unknown exact dates of death we will use either the 1st of the month or any publicized funeral date Status: Settled for $500,000 Sources Boston Globe When and Where in Boston Related Cases Armed – DisputedArmed: Knife, Sword or Blade Boston MABoston Police Department

Armed, Armed: Knife, Sword or Blade

Nathaniel Smith, 15

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Boston, MA Dorchester March 1,1973 Black | Male | 15 Years Old Boston Police Department Armed: Knife (Disputed) Nathaniel Smith was shot and killed by Boston Police patrolman Thomas Clifford after a car chase. Police said Clifford pursued what he suspected was a stolen automobile until the vehicle came to a stop in Dorchester. The Globe wrote : “Police said Smith jumped from the car when Clifford approached, pulled out a 4-inch or 5-inch knife and slashed at the officer. According to police, Clifford then pulled his revolver and shot Smith in the chest.’’ Two other young people in the car fled, and were later captured by police. A month later, many black Bostonians said the explanation for the shooting was “unsatisfactory.’’ “They base their dissatisfaction on eyewitness accounts that Smith never left the back seat of the car and that his chest wound apparently had a downward trajectory,’’ the Globe said. In addition, the suspected stolen vehicle had been stripped of its back seat by police. And Smith’s mother said she was in possession of the only knife her son owned: his Boy Scout knife. “Before it’s over,’’ said Marvin Harrell of the NAACP’s Boston chapter, “someone is going to have to give us some answers.’’ The FBI began investigating the case to see if Smith’s Civil Rights had been violated. About 20 witnesses testified before Judge Francis Larkin in mid-May. By August, the investigation still hadn’t been publicly released. Meanwhile, a policeman who shot another 15-year-old, Michael Pender, was charged with manslaughter three weeks after that shooting. Pender was white, and Smith black. The contrasting legal treatment of the two shootings struck some as evidence of a racial double standard. “This shows how little regard there is for black lives,’’ state Rep. Mel King told the Globe. Suffolk County closed the case in September, ruling that Clifford was justified in shooting Smith. “The Smith boy was in an upright position and springing toward the officer at the time the officer (Clifford) fired the shot,’’ Judge Larkin ruled. * In the case of unknown exact dates of death we will use either the 1st of the month or any publicized funeral date Status: Ruled Justified Sources Links Boston Globe Related Cases Uncategorized Boston MABoston Police Department

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