Sergeant Michael Chesna, 42, a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the Weymouth Police Department for six years, was shot and killed on July 15, 2018, while responding to a report of an erratic driver near South Shore Hospital. Officers had traced the situation to a minor crash and observed Emanuel Lopes, then 20, vandalizing a home on Burton Terrace. Chesna approached Lopes as he was throwing rocks and attempted an arrest; Lopes allegedly struck Chesna in the head with a large rock, seized the officer’s service weapon, and shot him multiple times. Chesna was taken to South Shore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After shooting Chesna, Lopes allegedly fired at two responding officers and fatally shot 77-year-old Vera Adams, who had been watching from her sunroom. Responding officers wounded Lopes in the leg and took him into custody. Lopes was charged with two counts of murder. Chesna is survived by his wife, Cindy Chesna, and two children; he had been posthumously promoted to sergeant. The community later dedicated the Route 18 bridge over the MBTA Colony Railroad in his honor.

If anyone saw the events on Burton Terrace or has additional information about the moments before the shootings, please come forward.