Boston Police Shoot Through Closed Apartment Door, Narrowly Missing Child

A Dorchester woman says officers opened fire into her son's bedroom, shattering a window just inches from where he usually sleeps.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:41pm

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A 25-year-old Dorchester woman says Boston Police officers opened fire through her closed apartment door, with the bullets going into the wall of her 5-year-old son's bedroom. The woman says she was alone at the time and that if her son had been home, he could have been killed. The police incident report claims the woman had a knife, but she denies having any weapon. The shooting is under investigation, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative duty.

Why it matters

This incident raises serious concerns about police use of force and the potential for tragic consequences when officers discharge firearms through closed doors without clear justification. It also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability around police shootings, especially those that endanger innocent bystanders like young children.

The details

According to the woman, on February 14, 2026, she was alone in her Dorchester apartment when she heard banging on the door around 10 p.m. She looked through the peephole but couldn't see who was there, so she closed and locked the door. Moments later, she heard several gunshots and immediately thought she had been shot. The bullets went through the wall and into her son's bedroom, shattering a window just inches from where he usually sleeps. The woman says if her son had been home, he would have been killed.

  • On February 14, 2026, the woman heard banging on her apartment door around 10 p.m.
  • Moments after she closed and locked the door, the woman heard several gunshots.

The players

Boston Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the incident and discharged their firearms through the woman's closed apartment door.

25-year-old Dorchester resident

The woman who was home alone at the time of the incident and says the police shooting narrowly missed her 5-year-old son.

Todd McGhee

A former Massachusetts State Trooper and security expert who says there was no justification for the police to shoot through the closed door.

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What they’re saying

“I thought I was going to die. I thought I was going to die.”

— 25-year-old Dorchester resident

“There is no reason to arbitrarily shoot through a door not knowing what's fully on the other side like a 5-year-old or other occupants, does seem to some level of negligence. Law enforcement just doesn't just show up at a residence and then start putting holes in the doors with bullets. That is absurd to me.”

— Todd McGhee, Former Massachusetts State Trooper and security expert

What’s next

Boston Police say the shooting is under investigation and the officers involved have been placed on administrative duty. The woman says she wants to speak to a lawyer before talking to detectives further.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater police accountability and transparency around the use of force, especially when it endangers innocent bystanders. It raises serious questions about the judgment and training of the officers involved and the broader issue of how police respond to perceived threats in residential settings.