Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Homicide

Family: Surveillance video raises questions about man's fatal shooting by terror investigators

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • fa160899-
    Image 1 of 3

    Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley speaks as FBI Special Agent in Charge Vincent Lisi listens during a press conference Monday, June 8, 2015, in Boston, after they released a surveillance video which they say shows the fatal shooting of a Boston man suspected of plotting to kill police officers. The video comes from a restaurant across the street, and the figures shown are blurry. Police and the FBI say it shows officers shooting 26-year-old Usaama Rahim on June 2 in the city's Roslindale neighborhood after they attempted to question him about "terrorist-related information." (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

  • 92f16b51-
    Image 2 of 3

    Commissioner of the Boston Police Department William Evans walks past a monitor after releasing a surveillance video during a press conference Monday, June 8, 2015, in Boston, which police say shows the fatal shooting of a Boston man suspected of plotting to kill police officers. The video comes from a restaurant across the street, and the figures shown are blurry. Police and the FBI say it shows officers shooting 26-year-old Usaama Rahim on June 2 in the city's Roslindale neighborhood after they attempted to question him about "terrorist-related information." (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

  • 9c158c82-
    Image 3 of 3

    Commissioner of the Boston Police Department William Evans speaks as First Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Patrick Haggan, far left, and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley listen after releasing a surveillance video during a press conference Monday, June 8, 2015, in Boston, which they say shows the fatal shooting of a Boston man suspected of plotting to kill police officers. The video comes from a restaurant across the street, and the figures shown are blurry. Police and the FBI say it shows officers shooting 26-year-old Usaama Rahim on June 2 in the city's Roslindale neighborhood after they attempted to question him about "terrorist-related information." (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

BOSTON – Blurry surveillance video raises new questions about the fatal shooting of a Boston man by terrorism investigators, his family said.

Usaama Rahim's family insists the video, released by authorities Monday, doesn't show the 26-year-old security guard brandishing a weapon or approaching officers aggressively.

They say many unanswered questions remain about the June 2 incident, including if deadly force was necessary and whether it was appropriate to approach Rahim in a "military-like formation" without a warrant.

"The family asks that the public keep an open mind," it said in a statement. "The video reveals part of the story, but not the entire story."

Authorities said the video confirms officers acted responsibly, drawing their guns only after backing away and giving Rahim multiple chances to drop the military-style knife he was holding.

"We averted a serious tragedy that day," Police Commissioner William Evans said at a news conference where the video was released. "I don't think he was going to go down very easy. ...We can second-guess this, but it unraveled so quickly. I believe my officers acted responsibly."

The FBI and Boston police said they had Rahim, who is black and Muslim, under 24-hour surveillance and had intercepted conversations suggesting he planned to carry out an attack on police.

The brief video, which has no audio, shows a man identified by police as Rahim walking through a parking lot on his way to a bus stop in the city's Roslindale neighborhood.

Six officers, who authorities say were in plainclothes, approach Rahim but appear to back up as Rahim advances toward them.

The officers encircle Rahim and then draw their firearms. Rahim, who is mostly obscured by a light pole during the altercation, falls to the ground a few moments later.

Police said two officers — an FBI agent and a police officer — fired three shots.

Authorities last week showed the video to black and Muslim community leaders and Rahim's family.