Brockton man John Lazare, 23, was held without bail on charges that he shot and injured a Boston police officer who was responding to a report of a robbery on Cedric Street in the city.
Lazare faced nine charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and more at his arraignment Monday morning.
“It’s a blessing that (the officer) made it out of there alive,” said Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone at the courthouse.
“It’s a true miracle. It’s an officer doing his job, trying to protect the general public, trying to protect people that are delivering food to the general public, and he gets attacked as soon as he walks in the door. This is what officers face every night that they go to work,” he continued.
Lazare was held pending a dangerous ness hearing scheduled for June 23.
The officer was shot multiple times Friday, being struck in the foot and rear, according to police. He is expected to recover. Police Commissioner Michael Cox credited the the injured officer, saying he “did everything he could to honor the sanctity of life and make sure that this person was also captured.”
Lazare pled not guilty to the charges. His attorney during arraignment at the Roxbury branch of Boston Municipal Court objected to the judge holding him under the protective order.
There was a massive turnout of Boston police officers that packed the courtroom at this morning’s proceedings.
Lazare did not enter the courtroom and hid behind a door instead.
Calderone said it was “disturbing” that Lazare hid in the courtroom and he called the show of support for the injured officer “fantastic.”
The 23-year-old Brockton man was already known to law enforcement in other parts of the state before the alleged Friday night shooting.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in January 2020 out of Salem for receiving stolen property, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Another warrant was issued for Lazare’s arrest in June 2022 out of Quincy for multiple counts of identity fraud and larceny over $1,200, according to a police report.
— Developing