MALDEN, Mass. – A tense and chaotic scene unfolded on a busy Malden street when police shot a man who allegedly assaulted and robbed a woman, then advanced on officers with a knife, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Dominic Long, who is now hospitalized in stable condition and facing several criminal charges.
The incident
Police were called to the downtown area after a woman reported being robbed and physically assaulted. Responding officers quickly encountered Long, who, according to investigators, ignored repeated commands to drop what he was holding.
The DA’s office said Long then pulled a kitchen-style knife from his pocket and advanced toward one of the officers. One officer fired their weapon, striking him.
At the scene, investigators later recovered bullet casings, a deployed Taser, and other evidence, all surrounded by crime-scene tape along the busy roadway.
Witnesses describe chaos
Several bystanders saw the confrontation unfold. One witness shared cellphone footage showing officers with their guns drawn, shouting orders as Long lay on the ground just moments after being shot.
“They were yelling, ‘Drop it! Drop it!’” the witness recalled. “Then I heard the female officer scream, and right after that, I heard three pops.”
Another local resident said the encounter escalated very quickly.
“He kept reaching into his pocket,” the resident explained. “I noticed he was trying to go into it, and then I heard the yelp from the female officer. Seconds later, the shots rang out.”
For many nearby, the shooting was a shock in an otherwise familiar neighborhood. “It’s scary. This is usually a busy street with people walking around. I never expected something like this to happen right outside,” said another witness.
An American flag used as first aid
As officers rushed to tend to Long’s injuries, they improvised with whatever was available. Witnesses said an American flag, brought from a nearby taxi company, was used to stop the bleeding.
“All that blood — they were ripping off his shirt, but they needed something more,” one bystander explained. “Somebody from inside the taxi place handed them a flag, and they used it like bandages.”
The unusual moment left a strong impression on witnesses, as the stars and stripes became part of the desperate effort to save the suspect’s life.
Suspect in custody, family reacts
Long is currently under arrest at the hospital, the DA’s office confirmed. He faces multiple charges connected to the assault, robbery, and the dangerous confrontation with police.
Family members, however, expressed surprise at the allegations. One relative described him as “a goofy kid” who had recently secured a job at the local taxi company, calling him friendly and lighthearted.
Community shaken
The incident has rattled the Malden community, with many residents questioning how such violence could erupt in their neighborhood.
“It shocked me that it happened so close to me,” said one man who witnessed the aftermath. “You never think about something like this happening just steps from where you live.”
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, along with Malden Police and the Massachusetts State Police, are continuing to investigate the shooting.
