In both instances, one of the first people to hear what had happened was Helen McCain, 75, a blunt, opinionated, and cheerful woman who had been a cop’s wife or mother for the past 50 years. “Am I going to have to go through this again?’ ’’ Mrs. McCain asked herself. “He’s my only son. He’s my only child.’’
As young Joe flew across the intersection that November night, skidding to a halt 30 feet from the suspect’s Honda, Matthew Krister, 21, had just gotten into the car. Almost immediately, Oliveira and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Brian Higgins, 37, reached the driver’s side door and yanked it open.
Krister knew Oliveira and Higgins. Less than two weeks earlier, Krister had met with the two men at the Somerville police station. During that interview, according to a report by the Middlesex district attorney’s office, Krister admitted that he had recently purchased eight handguns in New Hampshire and had sold six of them to gang members.
Krister told police he’d cooperate by identifying the gang members, but then he disappeared and eluded police for several days. “I gave you an opportunity,’’ Oliveira told Krister on the phone. He was now wanted for illegal possession of firearms.
Oliveira had his left hand on Krister’s throat, and his gun pointed at the suspect’s head. Re-holstering his gun, Oliveira, 43, a compactly built fellow, attempted to grab Krister with both hands. But as Oliveira reached for him, the district attorney’s report says “Krister pulled out a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at the detective.’’
“I saw the [muzzle] flashes,’’ said Oliveira, who was shot in the right forearm, twice in the stomach, and twice in the chest.
