'I Didn't Pop Off!' Man Carrying Gun, Wearing Bulletproof Vest Tells Police

BOSTON, MA — Officers arrived at a house party, and a man in the crowd fled. They caught up to find him with a gun on his pocket and wearing a bulletproof vest but, he assured them, he didn't fire the shots they heard.

That's according to the Boston Police Department, who said officers arrested 23-year-old Rakeem Lewis Sunday night, charged with Carrying a Firearm in Violation of Restrictions and Disturbing the Peace.

Police report they arrived at a Whitfield Street party in Dorchester Sunday around 10:45 p.m., responding to calls for a large house party with several fights and at least firearm reported.

According to police, Lewis ran moments after their cruiser pulled up, fleeing "in a full sprint while pushing several people out of the way." Shortly before that, officers reportedly heard gunfire (although they could not determine the source).

After a chase, officers captured Lewis on West Tremlett Street, taking him into custody and recovering a loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun from his shorts pocket, police said. They also reportedly discovered he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

According to police, Lewis insisted, "I didn’t pop off, I didn’t pop off.”

Police said Lewis was licensed to carry, but was in violation of his restrictions at the time of the incident. Both his license and his firearm were seized. He will appear in Dorchester District Court, facing the charges listed above.