Two Boston park rangers are expected to survive a stabbing attack Tuesday evening on Boston Common. It was just before 5 p.m. yesterday when Boston police say a homeless man — now in custody — lunged at the rangers with a knife, stabbing them repeatedly. Both rangers were taken to local hospitals, with one of them being treated for life-threatening injuries.
According to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Tuesday evening was not 34-year-old Bodio Hutchinson’s first brush with the law.
"They ran into a violent guy who had warrants for [assault and battery] on a police officer and drug warrants on him also," Evans said.
Now Hutchinson faces at least two attempted murder charges in connection with the stabbing of two park rangers Tuesday on Boston Common. At a press conference, Evans called the attack unprovoked. Hutchinson was sitting on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument when the rangers approached him. Evans not only commended the quick response of Boston police, but that of eyewitnesses as well.
"They stayed with the suspect," he said. "Multiple witnesses, video — they were videotaping on their cell phones."
One ranger, a sergeant with 20 years experience, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and underwent surgery for critical stab wounds to the abdomen. The second ranger, a military veteran new to the service, was transported to Tufts Medical Center in stable condition. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says the city will take a look at staffing and equipment needs for rangers.
"We’ll go back and talk with the police and talk with the rangers to see what they need for more equipment and, possibly, an increase of park rangers; certainly to make sure the park system’s safe," Walsh said.
Walsh and city officials say park rangers are trained in self-defense and the use of pepper spray and batons, but don’t carry firearms.
