Jury deliberates case of state trooper accused of shooting ATV driver in Boston in 2018 – Boston News, Weather, Sports

BOSTON (WHDH) – A former Massachusetts State Police trooper accused of shooting an ATV driver in Boston in 2018 appeared in court Thursday to make closing arguments in his trial.

In February 2018, Matthew Sheehan was one of several police officers who responded when a large group of ATVs, motorcycles and dirt bikes were driving erratically on Interstate 93 in Boston. Sheehan fired his police-authorized weapon, striking and injuring ATV rider Aderito Monteiro.

Sheehan is now charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and a jury must decide whether Sheehan's actions were justified. The trial began on Friday.

Robert Sheketoff, Sheehan's defense attorney, told jurors that the incident was a case of self-defense.

“Let’s get to the real problem of the case. “Did he shoot him because he thought he was going to get hit by the SUV?” Sheketoff said.

He described the scene as loud and chaotic and said his client had only seconds to decide how to react.

“What does it mean from my client's perspective that someone continues to hit him with a vehicle that weighs several hundred pounds?” Sheketoff said.

However, prosecutor John Verner pointed out that Sheehan hit Monteiro's foot and the wheel of the ATV.

“If he had really been afraid, he would have relied on his training, he would have shot right into the crowd – in the sternum – and he would have killed Aderito Monteiro,” Verner said.

Verner claimed the former soldier had 23 seconds to think about the situation.

“Was it necessary? Was it sensible? Or was it reckless and dangerous?” said TK.

The jury deliberated from 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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