Killing of Sayed Faisal

Shooting of Sayed Faisal
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date	January 4, 2023;3 years ago (2023-01-04)
Attack type	Police shooting
Deaths	1

The Shooting of Sayed Faisal was a 2023 police shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. On January 4, 2023, Sayed Faisel, a 20-year-old Bangladeshi American student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, was shot and killed by Cambridge Police Department officer Liam McMahon. Cambridge police had responded to a report alleging that Faisel had jumped out of an apartment window with a knife.^{[ citation needed ]}

Events

Police version

Police allege that after a foot chase, Faisal moved towards officers with a knife. After one officer-Robert Colbert-shot Faisel with a sponge round that didn't stop him, McMahon shot him. ^[1]

Backlash

The Cambridge Police Department was criticized by counter-protesters for the killing as an alleged act of police brutality, Islamophobia and racism. Counter-protesters and Faisel's family also called the explanation given by police into question, calling for more transparency and police reformation. ^[2]

Legal case

On October 5, 2023, a Massachusetts judge ruled that the Cambridge police officer who shot Faisel would not be prosecuted and that the shooting was justified. ^[3]

People involved

• Sayed Faisal, 20-year-old student attending the University of Massachusetts Boston.
• Liam McMahon, police officer working within the Cambridge Police Department since 2015.
• Robert Colbert, police officer. ^[4]

References

1. Dwyer, Dialynn (2023-01-10). "What we know about the fatal Cambridge police shooting of a 20-year-old UMass student". Boston.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
2. "After Fatal Shooting of Sayed Faisal, Cambridge Residents Seek Answers at City Council Meeting | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
3. Tenser, Phil (2023-10-05). "Deadly police shooting of college student was justified, judge rules". WCVB. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
4. "Cambridge officer will not be prosecuted in shooting of Sayed Faisal". GBH. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-11-26.