Officers use Taser to subdue dog after firearm discharged outside Boston Public Library

A Boston police officer discharged a firearm on the morning of April 17, 2025, while attempting to subdue a "vicious dog" outside the Boston Public Library. The incident unfolded around 9:22 a. m. , coinciding with preparations for the Boston Marathon. Witnesses described a tense scene, noting a woman struggling to control the dog as it lunged toward a man, with a homeless individual nearby shouting at the animal.

Police later confirmed that the discharge of the firearm was an effort to gain control of the aggressive dog. After fleeing the scene, the dog was located in the Boston Common area and subdued using a Taser by responding officers. No injuries were reported due to the gunshot, although the officer who fired the weapon was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The startling sound of the gunshot evoked memories for some witnesses, recalling the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The incident remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made as of yet.