Boston Police officer shot in Dorchester

A suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting of a Boston Police officer on Friday. 

The incident happened on Mount Bowdoin Terrace in Dorchester around 10:30 a.m.

The plain clothes officer, identified by police as Kurt Stokinger, was transported to Boston Medical Center.

Boston Police said Stokinger was shot in the leg. He was conscious and alert when he was taken to the hospital. 

He does not appear to have life-threatening injuries. 

In a news conference on Friday, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said Stokinger is a nine-year veteran of the police force assigned to the Mattapan drug unit and the father of two young children. 

Evans said the suspect is 27-year-old Grant Headley of Dorchester. According to the Suffolk District Attorney, at the time of the shooting Headley was on probation following his release from a five-year state prison term on a 2009 arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute. 

Headley is a known drug dealer who has a suspended license, Evans said. On Friday morning, officers pulled Headley over because they knew him to have a suspended license. 

According to Evans, Headley got out of his vehicle and began to fire at officers. Officers exchanged gun fire as the suspect took off. 

Evans said officers tackled Headley and confiscated an automatic handgun from the suspect. 

Headley has been arrested for prior firearm charges, Evans said. 

"We are fortunate here that we don’t have an officer who suffered a more severe injury," Evans said. "He has a serious leg wound at this time." 

Mayor Marty Walsh commended the quick work of the Boston Police Department on Friday. 

"We have too many guns on the street," Walsh said. "We are not going to tolerate anyone going after the Boston Police Department. Their job is to protect the community and protect the neighborhood. And that is what they do every single day, day in and day out."

The ABCD Head Start school has confirmed that it is currently in lock down due to the shooting. Parents are expected to arrive to pick up their children. 

Headley is expected to be arraigned on Monday.

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