BOSTON, June 14, 2013—A South Boston man was arraigned from his hospital bed today on charges that he pointed a pellet gun at Boston and State police who believed it to be a real firearm, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
KENNETH CONNOLLY (D.O.B. 12/16/59) was arraigned on the single count of assault with a dangerous weapon from his hospital bed at Boston Medical Center, where he is receiving treatment for a gunshot wound sustained Wednesday night.
Assistant District Attorney William Champlin recommended Connolly be held on $5,000 bail with the conditions he wear a GPS monitor, abide by a curfew, and check in with probation weekly. South Boston District Court Judge Michael Bolden imposed $750 bail and required that Connolly check in once a week with probation and undergo a mental health evaluation with the court clinician.
According to prosecutors, members of the Boston police and State troopers were called to and flagged down in the area of East 8th and Old Harbor streets separately at about 10:00 p.m. for a man shooting a silver handgun. There, the officers observed Connolly, who matched the suspect’s description and was carrying an item that resembled a silver handgun.
The preliminary investigation suggests that officers and troopers ordered Connolly to drop the weapon, and that Connolly instead raised it and pointed it at them. At least one of the officers and troopers at the scene discharged his firearm and Connolly was struck. Police provided him with medical assistance until Boston EMS arrived to transport him to Boston Medical Center. He is expected to survive his injury. At the scene, investigators recovered two pellet guns that resembled firearms.
The probe into the use of force remains open, with investigators from Boston Police, State Police, and Conley’s office all involved.
Connolly is represented Bob Menton. He is expected to appear in court on July 10.
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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
