Suspect arrested in Framingham officer shooting

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

FRAMINGHAM -- Framingham police say they have arrested one suspect but are still pursuing another after a police officer was shot in the face Tuesday night.

Sahr W. Josiah, 22, of Framingham allegedly shot Officer Phillip Hurton three times, once in the face and once in each hand, said Lieutenant Paul Shastany, a police spokesman.

Hurton was taken by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Josiah was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing Friday after being arraigned this morning in Framingham District Court. He is facing 19 charges, including armed assault with intent to murder and unlawful carrying of a firearm, second offense.

Shastany said police received a report from a taxicab driver at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday of a robbery by two men with guns near 15 Alexander St.

Officers chased the two suspects through a marsh, with the help of search dogs and a helicopter. Josiah emerged from woods on Beaver Street and allegedly shot Hurton, Shastany said.

Josiah allegedly then ran behind a convenience store and fired at two more officers, striking a police cruiser and shattering its window. He fled into the woods again but emerged later and was taken into custody, Shastany said.

Prosecutor Darina Belot told the court at the arraignment that Hurton may have a projectile lodged in his neck and he had also suffered major tendon damage in his right hand and a broken finger on his left.

Josiah's attorney, Charles Hughes of Framingham, had no comment on the case.

"It's obviously a tragedy," Jason Smith, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said last night of Hurton's being shot. "My compassion goes out to him and his family."

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