Hero Boston Marathon Cop Injured In Shooting

A police officer who was involved in the extensive manhunt for Boston Marathon bombers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev is in critical condition following an officer-involved shooting in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury. Boston Police Officer John Moynihan was shot in the face Friday night after a suspect opened fire on police while pulled over in a traffic stop. Moynihan has been placed in an induced coma, Boston police officials said.

An Army Ranger veteran of the Iraq war and a six-year veteran of the Boston police force, Moynihan became a hero in the city of Boston following the April 15, 2013 bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. During the manhunt for bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev that ensued three days later, Moynihan placed himself in danger. The police officer was reportedly one of the first responders on the scene of the manhunt, which quickly escalated in a gun battle with authorities. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed during the gun fight.

According to CBS News in Boston, Moynihan was responsible for transporting injured transit police Officer Richard Donohue, who was shot during the gun battle with the Tsarnaev brothers. Donohue almost bled to death, but was saved by Moynihan, Boston police have said.

Last May, Moynihan was honored by the White House for his heroic involvement with the 2013 Boston bombing manhunt. President Obama gave the young police officer a "Top Cop" award.

Moynihan was shot at a point-blank range Friday night, according to Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans. The commissioner said the 34-year-old officer is currently "fighting for his life," The Boston Globe reports.

Evans added that the suspect fired at the police officers "before they had time to react." It was initially a routine "gang unit" traffic stop. According to Evans, Moynihan was part of the force's Youth Violence Task Force, which is known as the "gang unit."Along with Moynihan, a civilian woman was injured in the shooting. Evans said the woman, who was a bystander, endured a flesh wound in her arm, The Globe reports.Boston Mayor Marty Walsh released this statement Friday night:

My thoughts and prayers are with the Officer injured tonight, his family and friends and the entire Boston Police Department during this difficult time. These acts of violence have no place in our neighborhoods. Our community is stronger than ever, and tonight we are thankful for all of those who put their lives on the on the line everyday to protect our City.

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