Police said the case began with a reported vehicle break-in and ended after a crash involving a State Police cruiser.
MALDEN, MA — Five juveniles were arrested Tuesday after police said a stolen vehicle drove at a Medford officer, drew gunfire and led officers on a chase that ended with a crash in Malden.
The early-morning case moved quickly from a report of a possible car break-in to a multi-agency pursuit across city lines. Medford police said five juveniles were taken into custody, three officers and one suspect were treated for minor injuries, and the officer who fired at the vehicle was placed on leave while the case remains under investigation.
The incident began at about 4:30 a.m. June 2, when the Medford Police Emergency Communications Center received a report of people trying to break into a motor vehicle on Barbara Lane in West Medford. Officers on duty were given a description of the suspect vehicle and began checking the area. Police said an officer later found a vehicle matching that description on Lincoln Road and tried to make contact with the people inside. “The vehicle drove at the officer attempting to hit him,” Medford police said in an update, adding that the officer then fired at the vehicle.
Police said the vehicle fled after the shot was fired, hit a parked car and kept going with heavy front-end damage. The damage caused the vehicle to begin smoking, but it continued through Medford in what police described as a low-speed pursuit. Massachusetts State Police and Malden police joined Medford officers as the vehicle crossed into Malden. Police said the vehicle struck a State Police cruiser in Malden, then stopped a short time later. The people inside ran from the vehicle and were arrested near Medford Street and James Street in Malden.
All five people taken into custody were identified by police as juveniles. Their names were not released because of their ages. Police later said investigators determined that the vehicle involved had been reported stolen out of Woburn on Monday morning. The ages and hometowns released by police included a 17-year-old from Malden, two 16-year-olds from Somerville and Malden, and a 14-year-old from Malden. Police did not release the age or hometown of the fifth juvenile in the same charging update. Officials did not report any gunshot injuries and said the injuries that sent people to hospitals were not caused by the officer’s gunfire.
The 17-year-old from Malden faces the most serious list of charges, including receiving a stolen motor vehicle, assault to murder, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop, marked lanes violation, speeding, resisting arrest and leaving the scene of property damage. A 16-year-old from Somerville was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle. A 16-year-old from Malden was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and also had an outstanding warrant, police said. A 14-year-old from Malden was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
The juveniles were transported to Cambridge Juvenile Court for processing, police said. The status of any arraignments or additional court dates was not immediately released. Police also did not say how many shots were fired, whether the officer’s cruiser or nearby property was struck, or whether investigators recovered any weapons from the vehicle. The officer who discharged the firearm was placed on leave, a standard step after a police shooting, while the department and outside agencies continued reviewing the incident.
Video from the Malden scene showed an SUV against a fence with shattered windows and heavy damage. Police tape blocked off the area while troopers and local officers worked around the crash site. The crash drew a large police presence near homes and businesses at Medford and James streets, where the chase ended after starting several miles away in West Medford. Police said three officers and one suspect were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries and later released.
By Tuesday afternoon, police said all five juveniles were in custody, the injured officers and suspect had left the hospital, and the officer who fired remained on leave. Investigators said the case was still active, and more information could be released after further review.
Author note: Last updated June 2, 2026.