< Security guard shooting justifiable, law enforcement officials say
E-mail|Link|Comments (8) October 29, 2009 02:47 PM
By Maria Cramer and Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff
The killing of a knife-wielding patient at a bipolar clinic earlier this week appears to have been a "justifiable" shooting because the assailant would have killed his doctor if an off-duty security guard had not intervened with his gun, several law enforcement officials said today.
The law enforcement officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the findings of a formal investigation by the Suffolk District Attorney's office have not yet been made public. District Attorney Daniel F. Conley has scheduled a press conference for later this afternoon, but it is not clear what will be announced. A preliminary autopsy report, however, is expected to be finished today.
The security guard, Paul Langone, fired three shots on Tuesday afternoon inside the clinic near Massachusetts General Hospital, striking the patient, Jay Carciero, in the torso and head, according to attorney James Perullo, who is speaking for the dead man's family.
When police rushed to the scene, Langone calmly and deliberately turned to them, identified himself as the shooter, and put his hands in the air. Officers removed the gun from him and some of the hospital workers who had been on the floor rushed to Langone to hug him, the officials said.
Perullo today questioned why Langone shot Carciero three times, calling the action "rash."
"I can appreciate that Jay is someone who may have needed to be shot in that environment," said Perullo, stressing that he was speaking for himself and not the Carciero family. "Philosophically, I have problems with it, but I can accept the concept."
Asked whether the family is considering a wrongful death lawsuit against Langone, Perullo said he had no comment. Jake Wark, spokesman for the district attorney, declined to discuss Perullo's statements.
On Tuesday afternoon at the clinic, Carciero had forced Dr. Astrid Desrosiers to the ground and was on top of her, attacking her with a knife, according to two law enforcement officials. It has not been made public where Carciero got the knife.
Another doctor tried to pull him off of Desrosiers but had to step back when Carciero slashed at him. Hearing the screams, Langone stormed into the room and opened fire on Carciero, the officials said.