The city of Boston is rallying around one of its officers after an "unprovoked" shooting on Friday put him in critical condition.
Officer John Moynihan was shot in the face by Angelo West after approaching West's vehicle in the city's Roxbury neighbourhood.
Moynihan and five other officers pulled West over after responding to reports of shots fired in the area. Surveillance cameras in the neighbourhood captured Moynihan approaching West's car without drawing his weapon.
"Without provocation, as the driver is getting out... you can see his right arm come up point-blank and shot officer Moynihan right below the eye," Police Commissioner William Evans told reporters told reporters.
Evans confirmed that the officers approached the situation "very low key," adding they weren't "even close to having their guns out."
Moynihan was shot below the right eye by West's .357 Magnum, and the bullet lodged behind is right ear. West unloaded his gun at officers as he ran away, and a woman in a passing vehicle suffered a flesh wound in the arm from a stray bullet.
West was killed by police and died at the scene.
Officer Moynihan was placed in a medically-induced coma and underwent a six-hour surgery. He was upgraded to stable condition on Sunday, and is reportedly improving.
Mayor Martin J Walsh said his thoughts and prayers were with Moynihan, his friends and family, and the Boston Police Department.
"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," he said in a statement released Friday.
The 34-year-old officer is considered a hero for helping to save the life of transit officer Richard Donohue during the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing. Donohue had been shot during the gunfight between officers and the Tsarnaev brothers.
