At 10:49 p.m., Lt. Manilla Padilla instructed revelers in the Mission District to disperse, saying, "You have four minutes to leave the area to disperse." The police presence included dozens of officers and sheriff's deputies, equipped and prepared to enforce the dispersal.
It was unfortunate that yesterday's meeting escalated the way it did when people were there simply to make their voices heard. Public input is an essential part of an accessible, accountable local government and as elected officials we should encourage all residents to exercise their right to participate.
"Fortunately, this gentleman had a malfunction in his weapon, which actually saved this from being a mass casualty event," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Assistant Sheriff Jamie Prosser said.
The suspectâs refusal to communicate with police prompted the deployment of SWAT, who tried negotiations and utilized less-lethal tactics like CS gas to resolve the situation.
The male suspect arrived at the courthouse for a case that originated approximately one year ago out of Stoneham, Woburn Chief of Police Robert F. Rufo told Boston.com in an email.