DA says fatal shooting of terror suspect in Roslindale was justified

BOSTON — The Suffolk County DA's office says their investigation indicates that a Boston Police officer and FBI agent who shot and killed a suspected terrorist were justified in their use of deadly force.

Usaamah Rahim was killed just after 7 a.m. on June 2, 2015 in the parking lot of a CVS in Roslindale.

Rahim, who was being monitored by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and had allegedly been planning to attack police officers, was shot after law enforcement agents approached him, and he pulled a large, military-style knife.

“They had the duty to stop him before he could act,” Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said.

Conley said there were more than a dozen witness statements in addition to surveillance video from four cameras and statements from officers involved in the incident that all pointed to the same facts.

When confronted by officers and ordered to drop the knife, Rahim allegedly said “you drop yours” and “why don’t you shoot me."

Conley said the officers backed up nearly 50 feet while telling Rahim to drop the knife, but once he got in close proximity he was shot three times.

The names of the law enforcement officers involved are not being released because of the general threat toward police.

Before releasing the findings of the investigation to the public, Conley met with Rahim's family to review the findings. The family said they appreciate the District Attorney's openness during the investigation.

"We are equally grateful that the DA and his staff provided the family with an explanation of the office’s decision, answered our questions, and expressed a willingness to answer any additional questions," a statement said.

However, the family said, there is a bigger issue with the investigation that led up to Rahim's death.

"From the beginning, we have raised a set of broader concerns that appear to be beyond the scope of the DA’s investigation. Specifically, we have asserted that Usaamah was the subject of an illegal arrest," the family said.

>>Family of Usaamah Rahim says police attempted to illegally arrest terror suspect

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