Man accused of killing his mother is shot by police
A 23-year-old man accused of killing his 61year-old mother in Wakefield on Tuesday was shot by police when he charged at officers with a knife above his head, according to the Middlesex district attorney.
Timothy Martin is now expected to face charges for killing his mother, Pamela Wood, who was a speech therapist in Wakefield Public Schools.
Police officers responded to 11 Otis St. in Wakefield around 10 a.m. for a well-being check for Wood, who had missed an 8:30 a.m. appointment with a student.
The school had reached out to her family about Wood’s absence, so the family went to the home but they did not have a key. They contacted police, who came to the house with firefighters, and they were able to pry open the home’s back door.
Police then went to the basement and found Wood, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
As officers called for backup, a suspect identified as Martin emerged from a corner of the basement, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
Martin ran at the officers as he held a knife above his head, Ryan said. Martin refused to put the knife down, and two officers discharged their weapons.
Martin was struck, and he was transported to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. He underwent surgery and is now in the ICU, where he’s currently in custody.
Authorities planned to file various charges against Martin on Tuesday.
Wood suffered “multiple traumatic injuries,” Ryan said.
“There were at least some wounds that seemed consistent with the knife,” the DA said at a press conference. “We’re obviously waiting on word from the Medical Examiner.”
There was no history of domestic violence at the residence.
Five officers were transported to the hospital after the incident. None sustained serious injuries, Ryan said.
“They were sent to the hospital to be evaluated for stress,” said Wakefield Police Chief Steven Skory.
“We have them sitting with the stress management team right now, to sit down and defuse from the situation.”
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and there is no threat to the public, police said.
“I’d like to stress to everyone this is an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the community,” the police chief said.
The two officers who discharged their weapons will be on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.