The Boston police and the FBI fatally shot and killed a man who was being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force for some time.
One Boston officer and one FBI agent shot and killed 26-year-old Usaama Rahim, who had reportedly walked up to them early this morning around 7:00 am holding a “military-style knife.” One photographer snapped a picture of the knife in question:
#Boston Cops lift a knife at the scene of police involved shooting this morning in Roslindale. More @bostonherald pic.twitter.com/nM6SsbNqDH
— Mark Garfinkel (@pictureboston) June 2, 2015
Rahim allegedly threatened them with the knife, and the officers who shot them said they were acting in self-defense. They tried to shout at him to put the weapon down, but he didn’t oblige, and they opened fire.
An anonymous law enforcement official told CNN Rahim had been monitored for a few years and they believe he was being influenced by ISIS and other extremists. Outside of that, not much detail has been revealed about the surveillance being conducted on Rahim.
Some media outlets have highlighted comments from a Twitter account reportedly belonging to Rahim’s brother:
Pray4 my younger brother Usaama Rahim shot 3 X in his back by Boston Police then dying His last words I can't breathe pic.twitter.com/XcZWeiigtg
— Ibrahim Rahim (@rahim_imam) June 2, 2015
"We are deeply grieved by the loss of Usaamah. We understand the need 4 info, but ask that the press 2 give us time to grieve as a family."
— Ibrahim Rahim (@rahim_imam) June 2, 2015
Once we have had an opportunity to grieve, we will make a family statement. Thank you for your prayers. Imam Ibrahim
— Ibrahim Rahim (@rahim_imam) June 2, 2015
The Boston PD and FBI held a press conference to share more details about the shooting. Watch part of the presser here, via CNN:
[image via screengrab]
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