According to the Boston Police department, BPD and FBI Special Agents assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) were conducting an ongoing surveillance investigation in the area of 4600 Washington Street, Roslindale.  As part of the investigation, detectives and agents approached an individual in the convenience store parking lot to conduct a threshold inquiry. The individual, who has since been identified as Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, 26 of Roslindale, pulled out a large knife (pictured above) and came towards the officers in a threatening manner. In response to the unprovoked assault, an officer and agents immediately created distance while instructing Rahim several times to drop the knife. Despite repeated commands to drop the knife, Rahim continued towards the officers in a threatening manner forcing the officers to discharge their firearms striking Rahim several times. Rahim was transported from the scene to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

UPDATE:

According to The Boston Globe, the man fatally shot by antiterrorism officers in Boston on Tuesday and the suspect arrested Tuesday night in Everett had conspired to kill a police officer, according to two law enforcement officials briefed on the case.

“We believe the intent was to behead a police officer,” one official said Wednesday morning. “We knew the plot had to be stopped. They were planning to take action Tuesday.”

Commissioner Evans: “One of the most difficult decisions a law enforcement official has to make is the decision to use deadly force. In this case it appears the decision to do so was justified and while we wish the outcome could have been different, the officers did what they were trained to do.”