Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden released a report on Wednesday, Oct. 21, concluding that a Boston Police officer used justifiable force in the March 2025 fatal shooting of a suspect at Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Back Bay.
“At the time he was shot, Mr. Jaramillo had ignored commands to drop a knife and was attempting to stab a 17-year-old male he had chased into the restaurant in retaliation for a fight moments before,” Hayden wrote in his report.. “Officer [Jose] Valenzuela fired his off-duty handgun in a lawful use of force that was necessary to prevent Mr. [Lemark] Jaramillo from killing or seriously wounding the younger male or anyone else. Therefore, I have determined that criminal charges against the officer are not warranted.”
DA Hayden also released police body camera footage and witness interviews, along with the report.
On March 1, 2025, Officer Valenzuela, who was dressed in civilian clothing at the time, fatally shot Jaramillo, age 32, in the restaurant located at 569 Boylston St., in response to Jamilla chasing the 17-year-old boy inside and attempting to stab the youth following a fight between the two individuals that happened moments earlier at a nearby Chipotle restaurant.