Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is coming under blistering criticism for sending condolences to the family of a knife-wielding attacker shot and killed by an off-duty police officer who is credited with saving lives at a Chic-fil-A in Back Bay.
“My condolences and all of our thoughts are with the family of the individual whose life has been lost,” Wu said from the scene Saturday night, just hours after the man allegedly charged at two other people with a knife inside the busy Copley Square restaurant.
The mayor offered her condolences to the attacker before she said she was “thinking of all of the people who were impacted here today” and that she was “glad the officer is safe and very grateful for a quick response from all of our first responders.”
Wu’s comments have gone viral as people from across the country, including prominent Republican congressmen, television news hosts, and law enforcement support organizations, have criticized the mayor’s response to the “very chaotic situation” on social media.
“Condolences from the mayor of Boston – wait for it – to a knife-wielding man trying to kill people!” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, wrote in an X post Sunday morning. “Thankfully this guy was stopped in his tracks by a brave law enforcement officer.”
Newsmax host Todd Starnes added: “What about offering condolences to the people who were terrorized by this lunatic? What about praising the off-duty police officer for putting his own life on the line? There could have been a mass casualty incident last night in Boston had it not been for that brave officer. Yet another reminder that Democrats always believe that the criminals are the true victims.”
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden also offered their condolences to the individual whose identity has not been released. Cox mentioned how his department is “proud of the police officers who activate themselves, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty, to try to save lives.”
“The individual … attempted to stab the two individuals involved,” Cox said from the scene where multiple callers reported a person shot at the Chic-fil-A restaurant in the 500-block of Boylston Street just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
“The off-duty officer identified himself as a police officer, instructed him to drop the weapon and at this point the individual did not comply,” Cox continued. “At this point, the individual discharged his weapon to stop the threat and … the armed individual was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced (dead). The off-duty officer was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.”
Boston police unions said Sunday that the officer’s actions saved lives.
“Last night, an ‘off duty’ member of the Boston Police recognized a threat, activated himself and took decisive action to end that threat, likely saving countless lives in the process,” the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society said in a social media post. “It is a testament to the commitment your officers have to their beloved society and a reminder that they are never truly ‘off duty.’”
Larry Calderon, head of the Boston Police Patrolman’s Association, called “any unexpected loss of life” a “tragedy.” The BPPA, the city’s largest police union, endorsed Wu’s mayoral reelection bid last week.
“Our immediate thoughts and prayers go out to our fellow Boston Police Officer and his family, the person who lost his life and his family, and the people who witnessed the attack and are also possibly suffering,” Calderon said in a statement to the Herald.
“Our officer did what he is trained to do,” Calderon added. “He activated and identified himself, gave verbal commands to drop the knife attempted to de-escalate the situation. But unfortunately, it ended tragically for all involved.”
At the scene, the DA said his team, led by the office’s chief of homicide, was interviewing a large number of witnesses who “are cooperating with the investigation” and reviewing a large amount of video surveillance footage from in and around the restaurant.
“We have reason to believe — strong reason to believe — there were other individuals who were here who witnessed something and may have been involved,” Hayden said. “We ask them to step forward. We need the help of anyone who knows what happened here … in this very chaotic situation.”
City Councilor Ed Flynn offered his “thoughts and prayers” to the officer involved in Saturday’s Boylston Street incident.
“Thank you for your courage, dedication and bravery to keep residents safe,” Flynn said in a social media post Sunday morning. “We support your heroic action and stand with you and your family.”
This all comes as Wu travels to Washington, D.C., this week, to testify on sanctuary city policies in front of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Wednesday.
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