Officials, Authorities Pay Respects To Fallen Weymouth Officer

WEYMOUTH, MA — Dozens of police departments and state officials offered condolences for the Weymouth Police Department following Sunday's tragic shooting death of Officer Michael Chesna. Social media posts showed support for the department and remembered of its fallen hero.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Massachusetts "is forever grateful for the courageous men and women who risk their lives to serve and protect our communities every single day."

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was seen visiting the Weymouth Police Department Sunday afternoon.

"We are with you, Weymouth," Sen. Elizbaeth Warren tweeted.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh tweeted, "Boston is grateful for Michael’s service in the United States Army and his dedication to keeping people safe in Weymouth."

Yarmouth Police, which lost Officer Sean Gannon in April to a gunman, was struggling with emotions Sunday.

Chesna was killed when a suspect identified as Emanuel Lopes, 20, struck Chesna in the head with a large rock, took his gun and then shot Chesna in the head and chest, the Norfolk District Attorney's Office said.

Chesna had been responding to a report of an erratic driver near South Shore Hospital shortly after 7:30 a.m. He arrived to find a BMW crashed and the driver of the single-car crash allegedly vandalizing a home on Burton Terrace. Chesna got out of his car, drew his gun and gave commands to Lopes, authorities said. That's when Lopes threw the rock, grabbed Chesna's gun and shot him. Chesna died at a hospital.

A second officer confronted Lopes, shooting him once in the lower leg. Lopes fled and allegedly fired off three more shots from Chesna's gun. One bullet traveled into a neighbor's home, killing a woman inside. Officials are withholding her identity until her family can be notified

Lopes was apprehended and is at South Shore Hospital with injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening. He is expected to be arraigned on murder charges Monday.

Chesna was a father of two young children, ages 4 and 9. He was described as a family man. Chesna, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, would have been on the force six years Monday.

Chesna grew up in Weymouth and graduated from Weymouth High. He got a bachelor's degree from Northeastern.

Reporting from Mike Carraggi was used in this story.

Photo from Norfolk DA