Officer Wounded In Tsarnaev Shootout May Have Been Hit With Friendly Fire

An MBTA Police Officer who was wounded in the 2013 Watertown shootout with the Tsarnaev Brothers may have been hit with friendly fire, not shots from the notorious Boston Marathon Bombers, according to a statement from District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Office.

After declaring that police were justified in their use of deadly force while pursuing Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev on April 19, 2013, the D.A.s public statement notes that the bullet lodged in the leg of Officer Richard Donohue probably came from another officer’s gun during the violence on Laurel Street.

However, it is not possible to tell which officer was responsible for the misfire, and since the use of deadly force has already been exonerated, he or she wouldn’t be in any trouble anyway.

“Every officer who responded to that situation did so recognizing that they were placing themselves in danger of death or serious bodily injury to come to the aid and defense of their fellow officers and the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect,” said District Attorney Ryan, in a statement.

“These officers responded in a courageous fashion which was testament to their commitment and training.”

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