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Police: Man Fatally Shot By Boston Officers In South End After Attacking EMS Workers With Knife

Boston police fatally shot a man early Sunday morning in the South End, a spokesman for the department said in a statement.

Officers were called to an apartment on Shawmut Avenue at around 12:30 a.m. to do a wellness check on an "emotionally disturbed" man in his 30s, "suffering from paranoia and schizophrenia," according to the statement.

The man attempted to stab emergency workers at the scene, police said, who called for help and a struggle between police officers and the man then ensued. Officers then fired at and fatally injured him "after failed attempts to disarm the man and de-escalate the situation," police said.

Police Commissioner William Evans told reporters Sunday afternoon that the officers had "no choice" but to fire at the man.

"It's the most difficult, painful decision we make, but when the EMTs lives are in danger and our officers are in danger, it leaves us no choice," Evans said. "We have to meet deadly force with deadly force."

The Suffolk District Attorney's office said it is investigating the lethal use of force.

The man was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, the Boston police statement said.

Two EMT workers were treated for back and head injuries and later released, Evans said.

This article was originally published on October 30, 2016.

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Jonathan Cain was the executive producer for WBUR's All Things Considered and edits afternoon newscasts.

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Simón Rios is an award-winning bilingual reporter in WBUR's newsroom.

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