Boston MA

Boston, MA Roxbury,MA July 15,1980 Black, Male, 14 Boston Police Department Unarmed 14 yrs old killed in Roxbury 1980 by BPD Officer Richard Borque Levi Hart, a 14-year-old African American youth from Roxbury, Mass., was killed in a police chase. Hart, and two other Roxbury youths had stolen and car. When the officers caught up to them, Hart was shot, arguably by Richard Bourque in an act of police brutality. * In the case of unknown exact dates of death we will use either the 1st of the month or any publicized funeral date Status: Unknown Sources Boston Globe   Related Cases Unarmed Boston MABoston Police Department

Boston, MA Mission Hill Housing Projects January 29, 1975 Black, Male, 25 Boston Police Department Unarmed In January 1975 two white undercover Boston police officers gunned down an innocent black man at the Mission Hill housing project, and then were accused along with other Boston police in a bungled scheme to cover it up. While on stakeout on a suspected getaway car used in an armed robbery, the two gunned down a black man who entered the car. The two claimed the man had a gun and they shot in self-defense. Police investigation decided it was a rightful shooting. The man’s widow knew her husband would not be carrying a weapon and became determined to prove her husband’s innocence. Attorney Lawrence O’Donnell of Boston, a former officer himself, conducted a three-year investigation on behalf of the widow, Patricia Bowden, which prompted two federal juries to agree in a historic verdict that the death of James Bowden “was malicious, willful, wanton or reckless,” and the result was a landmark legal decision which included a settlement of $843,000 for Bowden’s widow and two children. In more than 100 years, no one had won such a judgment against any police department. Former Boston Phoenix reporter Dave O’Brian was on assignment to write a feature story about Boston’s Tactical Patrol Force, O’Brian was in the back seat of the police cruiser along with a news photographer. When the shooting occurred, he was crouched on the floor in fear. His role became crucial, though, because his notes about what happened in the aftermath contradicted police. Looking for a tall, thin man, the police stake out the wrong car, then shoot a man who’s 5 feet 4 and weighs 180 pounds and who’s never been accused of a crime. Their versions in court contradict those of eyewitnesses, and also one another. A gun is planted at the scene to incriminate Bowden, but it’s the wrong type. Crucial tape recordings from the dispatcher’s office are missing. The police arrest O’Donnell’s son on a trumped-up charge, and beat him. The film and book ‘A Case of Deadly Force‘ were based on the case. Status: Judgement – Federal Sources New York Times People Blackstonian Related Cases Uncategorized Boston MABoston Police Department

Boston, MA South End June 1 ,1972 Black | Male | 16 Years Old Boston Police Department Johnson, a 16-year-old, was shot and killed by a Boston policeman in the South End while running away from authorities. Johnson was spotted climbing into the back window of a home, according to the Globe. Johnson fled the home with “the proceeds of the crime’’ in hand and ran toward a double gate, the Globe said: “A police officer screamed ‘Halt.’ Finally, police said, he fired a warning shot. The youth was perched at the top of the fence. The officer fired again. Seconds later, Jackie was dead.’’ The bullet hit Johnson in the neck, police said, and he was declared dead shortly after being admitted to the hospital. He did not have a weapon. Afterwards, Boston police said the shooting appeared to be justified. “There was a young man caught in the act of committing a felony, and there was no other means of apprehending him,’’ Superintendent William Bradley said. “It appears that all other means of preventing his escape had passed the police officer. He took this means of apprehending him.’’   Status: Ruled Justified Sources Links Boston Globe Related Cases Uncategorized Boston MABoston Police Department