Massachusetts Cop Justified in Shooting Alleged Carjacker of Trash Truck

Middlesex DA's office rules officer's use of deadly force was warranted to protect driver and public

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Middlesex District Attorney's office has determined that the Everett police officer who shot a man accused of carjacking a Republic Services trash truck was justified in using deadly force. The investigation found the officer, Daniel Wall, reasonably believed the truck driver and public were in imminent danger from the suspect, Admilson Vizcaino, who had a history of erratic and violent behavior during the incident last summer.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex and often split-second decisions police officers must make when confronted with potentially dangerous suspects, as well as the importance of thorough investigations to determine if use of force was justified to protect public safety.

The details

According to the DA's office, on July 31, 2025, Vizcaino, a 33-year-old Malden man, was reported acting erratically at a local gas station. He then led police on a chaotic chase through multiple communities, crashing his vehicle and allegedly attempting to carjack several cars while wielding a knife. When Vizcaino approached and entered a Republic Services trash truck that was stopped at a red light, Officer Wall fired four shots, striking Vizcaino but not fatally. The DA's office concluded Wall's actions were justified to protect the truck driver and others in the area.

  • On July 31, 2025, around 12:45 p.m., Medford Police received a report of Vizcaino acting erratically at a local gas station.
  • Vizcaino then led police on a chase through multiple communities, eventually crashing his vehicle in Everett.
  • When Vizcaino approached and entered the Republic Services trash truck, Officer Wall fired four shots, striking Vizcaino.

The players

Officer Daniel Wall

An Everett police officer who fired his weapon at Admilson Vizcaino to protect the trash truck driver and public.

Admilson Vizcaino

A 33-year-old Malden man who was accused of carjacking a Republic Services trash truck after a chaotic chase through multiple communities.

Republic Services

The waste management company that owned the trash truck Vizcaino allegedly carjacked.

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What they’re saying

“Our review of the facts reveals that, in the totality of the circumstances, Officer Daniel Wall was justified in the use of deadly force in defense of himself and others, based upon his own belief and the reasonably objective belief that he and his fellow officers, the Republic Services truck driver and citizens in the area were in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury at the time he fired his firearm.”

— Middlesex District Attorney's Office (bostonherald.com)

“It is my recommendation and that of investigators that you find that Officer Wall was reasonable in his belief that the Republic Services driver (name redacted) was in imminent danger or death or serious bodily injury and that the unpredictable, erratic and assaultive behavior Vizcaino was exhibiting and the failure of less lethal measures, specifically numerous taser deployments, to stop Vizcaino, left use of deadly force as his only recourse at that time and place.”

— Adrienne Lynch, Middlesex Assistant District Attorney (bostonherald.com)

What’s next

Vizcaino has been charged with multiple counts related to the incident and will face trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult split-second decisions police officers must make when confronted with potentially dangerous suspects, and the importance of thorough investigations to determine if use of force was justified to protect public safety.