Officials Identify Knife-Wielding Newton Man Killed By Officers

Authorities in Massachusetts have identified a man fatally shot by police above a local candy store this week.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Tuesday that Michael Conlon, 28, of Newton, was killed after refusing to comply with orders to drop his knife Monday afternoon.

State and local police had been responding to a 911 call from the owner of “Indulge!” in Newton. Ryan said officers located Conlon, who lived above the shop, in a second floor hallway.

The officers followed him to the third floor and called for backup, including a mental health clinician, she said.

Newton police discharged a beanbag gun at Conlon at about 2 p.m., which was followed by a state trooper’s attempt to subdue him with a stun gun, Ryan said.

Conlon, however, continued to advance on the officers while still holding the knife, prompting two Newton officers to fire at him, Ryan said. He was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Ryan said the Newton officers, who have not been named, were placed on temporary paid administrative leave, as is standard during police-involved shooting investigations.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is determining the cause and manner of death, she said.