An off-duty Boston police officer will not face criminal charges after fatally shooting a knife-wielding man inside a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Copley Square last year, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. The incident occurred on March 1, 2025, when Jose R. Valenzuela intervened as Lemark S. Jaramillo, 32, threatened a 17-year-old boy with a knife.

Prosecutors said Valenzuela, who was inside the Boylston Street restaurant at the time, identified himself as a police officer and ordered Jaramillo to drop the weapon. Despite repeated commands, Jaramillo raised the knife again, preparing to stab the teenager before Valenzuela fired three shots. Jaramillo was struck and fell forward, releasing the knife as he fell. Valenzuela administered first aid and called 911, requesting emergency medical services and additional police units. Jaramillo was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Following a review of surveillance footage and interviews with Valenzuela, the teenager, and two other witnesses, Hayden concluded the officer acted lawfully in defense of the youth and others present. “Officer Valenzuela fired his off-duty handgun in a lawful use of force that was necessary to prevent Mr. Jaramillo from killing or seriously wounding the younger male or anyone else,” the district attorney stated.

Valenzuela, wearing civilian clothes at the time, used his personal 9mm pistol rather than his department-issued firearm. Boston police later issued Valenzuela a verbal reprimand for failing to complete the mandatory off-duty weapons safety course, as required by departmental policy.

The report outlined the sequence of events leading to the shooting. Earlier that evening, Jaramillo arrived at a nearby Chipotle Mexican Grill but did not purchase food. Instead, he repeatedly asked employees for the code to access the men’s restroom on the second floor. While attempting to enter the restroom, Jaramillo brushed past the 17-year-old boy, referred to as RLT in the investigation. When Jaramillo emerged from the restroom, a physical altercation broke out between him and RLT, accompanied by two other teenagers nearby. During the fight, Jaramillo sustained a cut to his eyebrow from a broken pair of sunglasses and later drew a folding knife, causing other diners to scatter.

RLT retreated while holding a chair to keep Jaramillo at bay. The group left Chipotle and entered the Chick-fil-A, with Jaramillo following closely behind. Valenzuela, who was waiting to pick up food, observed Jaramillo inside the restaurant with blood on his forehead and the knife in hand. The confrontation escalated rapidly inside the crowded restaurant, with Jaramillo chasing RLT near a group of customers, including children.

District Attorney Hayden noted that Valenzuela was unaware of the prior altercation at Chipotle and responded solely to the immediate threat he witnessed. The case has been closed without charges against the officer.