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 The decision to release the footage comes amid protests in several
major U.S. cities over a series of killings of civilians in recent
months. The latest occurred last Saturday when a white officer in
South Carolina was videotaped shooting an unarmed black man as he
fled after a traffic stop.
"It is in everyone’s best interest to share (this) information as
soon as possible in order to tamp down speculation and rumors meant
to inflame and not inform," Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F.
Conley said at a news conference.
The video shows six-year Boston Police Department veteran John
Moynihan and two colleagues approaching a car stopped at about 6:40
p.m. on March 27 in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood.
 As Moynihan stands near the driver's door, a man identified by
police as 41-year-old Angelo West jumps out of the vehicle, shoots
Moynihan in the face and runs out of the camera frame as Moynihan
falls to the ground.
Authorities say West, who had a criminal record including prior gun
charges, was shooting at police as he ran and that Moynihan’s fellow
officers returned fire, killing him.
Moynihan, 34, is recovering after surgery to remove a bullet lodged
in his neck.
Local leaders at the news conference said that anger toward police
over the incident was minimal.
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"We need to be very aware that the work of police officers is indeed
very dangerous," said Rev. Mark Scott, of the Azusa Christian
Community in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.
He called West’s death "tragic,” but added that once someone pulls a
gun on a police officer, "you don’t leave the police any other
option but to respond."
The Suffolk District Attorney’s office is investigating the
shootings and has said it will release a full report on the incident
later.
(Editing by Richard Valdmanis)
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