Two Braintree police officers are recovering from their injuries and are expected to make full recoveries following a fatal shootout in the Massachusetts city on Friday, the police chief said. Officer Matt Donoghue was released from the hospital Saturday, while Officer Bill Cushing remains hospitalized.
Two Braintree police officers are recovering from their injuries and are expected to make full recoveries following a fatal shootout in the Massachusetts city on Friday, the police chief said.
Officers Matt Donoghue and Bill Cushing were searching for a man suspected in a domestic incident when they were shot. The Norfolk District Attorney's Office confirmed Saturday that both officers were in stable condition.
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Later Saturday, Chief Mark Dubois held a press conference after Officer Donoghue was released from Boston Medical Center and said both officers are expected to fully recover from injuries sustained in the incident. Dubois said both officers were shot multiple times and have various injuries. He declined to go into further detail.
Prior to starting the press conference, Chief Dubois took a moment to recognize the tragedy in Worcester where Officer Enmanuel 'Manny' Familia drowned trying to rescue a 14-year-old boy in Green Hill Pond, who also died in the incident.
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"Our heartfelt sympathies goes out to Worcester PD and their entire community, all our brother officers in Worcester, and obviously the 14-year-old victim who drowned yesterday," Dubois said. "Very tragic incident."
Dubois then moved onto his two officers who were shot, saying they're very fortunate that Officer Donoghue was released from the hospital Saturday.
Donoghue, 34, has been with the Braintree Police Department for nine years and is a veteran of the Army National Guard. He has had deployments in Afghanistan, serving his country overseas and in Braintree, the chief said.
Braintree police posted a video to Twitter just before 5 p.m. showing Officer Donoghue receiving a police escort on the highway after he was released from the hospital.
Officer Cushing remains in the hospital for treatment of his injuries, but he is also expected to make a full recovery. Dubois said he didn't know when Cushing would be discharged, but when he is, that there would be a ceremony for his police K9 Kitt, who was killed in the incident.
Cushing is a 15-year veteran with the department and had been partnered with Kitt for the past 12 years.
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The chief said they are incredibly thankful for all of the support they have received in the day since the incident happened.
"We’re also very, very thankful for the outpouring of support within the community of Braintree, the incredible service that the hospital has provided, and the outpouring of support beyond the community of Braintree, our surrounding communities, law enforcement across the state," Dubois said.
Gov. Charlie Baker said Saturday while touring a vaccine clinic in Dorchester that he had called the chief to offer his support to the entire police department, noting how incredibly sad and sorry he was following the incident not only in Braintree, but also in Worcester.
Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros also spoke at the press conference Saturday about the support he has seen from the city's residents.
"This is a very difficult time, to be serving as mayor to have two of your own go down, and to have the loss of Kitt, our K-9 officer, so I just want to say that we’re here, the town of Braintree is here, to support our police officers to support these two individuals that sacrificed their life to protect us," Kokoros said. "In addition to that we are 100% behind our police and will continue to be behind our police. I hope everyone takes a moment to say a prayer for our two officers as they heal and especially Kitt who we lost in the line of duty, who is truly a hero."
Deputy Chief Tim Cohoon said this was very traumatic incident that was multiplied by the loss of Kitt.
"It's a huge loss," he said at the press conference.
Braintree police posted tributes to Kitt on their Facebook and Twitter pages.
"During your service you apprehended countless criminals, often in the dead of night…through thick brush, and insane weather," the Facebook post read. "You found bad guys, wandered elderly, firearms and other ballistic evidence." "We will forever miss and remember you buddy. Free Time."
The shooting happened during an investigation into a domestic dispute at the Braintree Village apartment complex on McCusker Drive near Commercial Street. Donoghue and Cushing were both shot multiple times after they went searching for the suspect, who has been identified as Andrew Homen, 34, of Brockton, after he fled into the woods.
Dubois said the officers both underwent surgery at the hospital but were wearing bulletproof vests. He said they were "essentially ambushed'' by Homen, who authorities believe had two handguns.
Homen was pronounced dead at Milton Hospital.
An investigation is ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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