‘He's got a gas can...and he's threatening to blow himself up.'

Boston Globe

4 days ago

Those words were spoken during a chaotic series of events that began around 1 p.m. Thursday in Medford and ended about three hours later with the driver of the black SUV,
'Shots fired!,' the trooper reported, according to police transmissions recorded by Broadcastify.
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After being notified by police that the scene on the Alford Street Bridge was secure, Everett firefighters provided on-scene medical care for the wounded Vizcaino and then rushed him to a hospital.
Vizcaino, 33 and of Malden, remains hospitalized Friday in critical condition, authorities said.
Vizcaino's relatives either could not be reached for comment or declined comment when contacted by the Globe Friday.
In a statement Friday, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said the investigation into Vizcaino's alleged actions and the use of deadly force by the Everett officer are both ongoing.
Ryan said that when police examined the black SUV they discovered four gas cans inside and that surveillance video showed him drop a cigarette lighter when he was running from police in Everett.
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According to authorities, Vizcaino first came to the attention of law enforcement on Thursday around 12:45 p.m. when Medford police responded to a gas station where a man driving a black SUV was acting erratically.
In an alert sent to other police departments, Medford police requested a well-being check on the man in the black SUV. He was spotted in Stoneham around 1 p.m. but fled before police could check on him, authorities said.
He next surfaced in Billerica where he went to a 7-11 and was suspected of shoplifting a gas can from the store before driving off, authorities said.
Vizcaino's relatives called Malden police around 3 p.m. reporting he was at their home where Vizcaino once lived, authorities said.
After Malden police were unsuccessful in stopping him, he drove into Everett, where both Everett and State Police began trying to check on him. Once on Broadway, Vizcaino crashed the SUV, engaged with the trooper who saw the gas can inside the car, and ran off even after being struck by at least one Taser, officials said.
Vizcaino then allegedly tried to break into other cars as they exited Encore. He crossed Broadway and tried to break into cars stopped in traffic, but was unsuccessful, she said.
At this point, Vizcaino came upon a Republic Trash truck that was stopped at a traffic light. A passenger in the truck was able to get out, but the driver could not, Ryan told reporters Thursday.
Vizcaino opened the door to the truck and wrestled with the driver, trying to climb over him, Ryan said.
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'At that point, State Police and an Everett police officer approached that door,' Ryan said Thursday. 'They were attempting to get the driver out of the car, several shots were fired at that point, and the driver was safely extracted from the truck.'
Vizcaino then drove the truck a half mile before crashing on the bridge, Ryan said. He was arrested by State and Everett police at that point.
He will face four counts of attempted armed carjacking, 2 counts of armed carjacking, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, armed assault to rob and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in property damage, prosecutors said.
Everett Police Chief Paul Strong on Thursday said the officer 'who discharged his firearm' will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer fires their gun.
'It is more likely than not that these officers and troopers saved many lives today,' Strong said.
Vizcaino, who could face additional charges, will be arraigned at a later date, prosecutors said.
John R. Ellement can be reached at