Slain MIT Officer Sean Collier remembered as brave, devoted policeman

[ellisonz]

04/19/2013 12:50 PM

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, David Abel and Kay Lazar, Globe Staff

SOMERVILLE — Police today cordoned off a block of Curtis Street in Somerville, around the three-story house of 26-year-old Sean Collier, the MIT police officer killed in a late-night confrontation with the two suspects in the deadly Boston Marathon bombings.

Through tears, his roommate — who trained with Collier at the police academy and did not provide his name — said Collier was “awesome,” his only fault that was he was too brave.

“He was the guy who went to help,” his roommate said. “The best guy got shot down by the biggest scumbags.”

-------

Acccording to the statement from the Middlesex County district attorney’s office, at 10:20 p.m. Thursday night, gunshots were reported to police, and 10 minutes later Collier was found shot in his car. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead after arrival at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of our wonderful and caring son and brother, Sean Collier,” the Collier family said in a statement. “Our only solace is that Sean died bravely doing what he committed his life to – serving and protecting others. We are thankful for the outpouring of support and condolences offered by so many people. We are grieving his loss and ask that the media respect our privacy at this time.”

From the Boston Globe

[premium]

1. R.I.P. Sean Collier,

[joeybee12]

2. Shit...he looks very young...RIP

[Common Sense Party]

6. That's what I thought. Looks like he's 16.

[avaistheone1]

3. Just a kid himself.

Sickening.

Thoughts and prayers to his family.

[BeyondGeography]

4. There's warmth and character in that face

Another massive loss.

[ellisonz]

5. He sounds like a fantastic person.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Very sad. My condolences to his family.

God I hate this day!

[ellisonz]

8. Kick