Police say they shot suspect in leg after he pointed loaded rifle at them

A chase through residential streets and yards off Freeport Street and Morrissey Boulevard Saturday night ended with police shooting one of four men after he allegedly pointed an assault rifle at officers.

The man shot by police, Marvin Veiga, 21, of Dorchester, was the brother of a teen who officials say exchanged gunfire with police before fatally shooting himself in the head this past April, a source said.

Seized rifleSeized riflePolice say four gang members were on their way to murder somebody with some high-powered weaponry when members of the Youth Violence Strike Force tried to pull them over at Adams and East streets around 11 p.m.. Instead, the driver sped off and tried to get onto I-93 at Freeport Street, only he failed to make the turn onto the ramp and crashed into a guard rail, police say. Three of the four then got out of the car and ran through nearby streets such as Everdeen and Mill streets, police say.

"During the pursuit of one of the suspects, officers observed him to be in possession of an assault rifle and commanded him to drop it numerous times. The suspect ignored officers' commands and instead turned and pointed the rifle in the direction of the officers. As a result of the suspect's actions, one officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect in the leg. The suspect was transported to Boston Medical Center with a non-life threatening injury."

Morrissey Boulevard by Freeport Street was briefly shut down as police hunted two of the suspects. Police set up a command center on Freeport Street to process evidence and witnesses; homicide detectives were on scene, along with officers from across the city. One officer was hurt during the pursuit.

Seized gunSeized gunPolice say they recovered a loaded military style assault rifle from the scene as well as a .40 caliber handgun and approximately forty rounds of ammunition and several face masks.

"This is a clear case of a group of gang members who were on a mission to carry out a senseless act of violence," Police Commissioner Edward Davis said in a statement. "The intervention by our courageous officers undoubtedly thwarted a homicide. This level of gun violence is unacceptable and illegal guns must be a priority at all levels of government."

The man who allegedly aimed the rifle at officers, Marvin Veiga, 21, of Dorchester, will be charged with two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, carrying a large capacity rifle on a public way, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of loaded firearm and resisting arrest.

Osvaldir Mendes, 23, of Dorchester was charged with refusal to submit/stop for officers, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, unlawful possession of ammunition, resisting arrest, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, being and armed career criminal and a host of other motor vehicle violations. Takari Elliott, 18, of Dorchester and Daronde Bethea, 18, of Milton were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of loaded firearm and resisting arrest.

Photos provided by Boston Police Department.

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