DA: Shooting of psychiatric patient justified

BOSTON—A prosecutor said a preliminary investigation has found that an off-duty Boston special police officer was justified in fatally shooting a psychiatric patient who attacked his doctor in a medical office building.

District Attorney Daniel Conley said Thursday that the officer, Paul Langone, heard the screams of the doctor, Astrid Desrosiers, in her office on Tuesday. Conley said Langone saw the suspect, 37-year-old Jay Carciero, on top of Desrosiers, stabbing her.

Conley said Langone ordered Carciero to drop the knife and when he refused, fired several shots, hitting Carceiro twice.

The district attorney said Langone likely saved the life of the doctor and perhaps the lives of others.

Conley refused to say why Langone was in the medical building at the time, except to say he was there for a legitimate reason.