Report: Guy tried to shoot cop, only gun was empty, so he threw gun at cop instead

Updated with arraignment info.The Herald sometimes seems to overuse the word "brazen" in its crime reporting, but the word fits in Peter Gelzinis's account of the shooting on Walnut Park yesterday.

Dondre Crawford, 20, was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail at his arraignment today in Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm as a second offense, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, unlawfully discharging a weapon within 500 feet of a dwelling and resisting arrest, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Even if he could make bail, however, he would still be held pending a hearing on whether his arrest means he violated his probation for a 2014 gun conviction for which he served 1 1/2 years in jail.

According to the DA's office:

Assistant District Attorney David Fredette, chief of the DA’s Gang Unit, told the court that Crawford and another man believed to be in his late teens walked past the officer on Walnut Park at about 11:20 yesterday morning. The two were arguing, Fredette said, and a moment later Crawford allegedly produced a firearm from the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt and began firing at the second man.

The victim began to run and the officer - who witnessed the sequence of events - lost sight of him. The victim fled the scene and admitted himself to Boston Medical Center, where he was treated for nonfatal injuries to his legs.

The officer confronted Crawford, who was now standing on the traffic island - and ordered him to stop. Instead, Crawford allegedly ran toward the officer and threw the firearm - a Beretta 950 semiautomatic handgun - at him before sprinting toward Washington Street.

The officer gave chase, calling for assistance on his radio and maintaining observation of Crawford until he lost sight of the suspect near Dixwell Street. By this time, additional Boston Police units assisted by the State Police Air Wing responded to the scene and Crawford was apprehended in the rear of a Dixwell Street residence. The officer who witnessed the shooting was able to identify Crawford.

Investigators later recovered a sweatshirt consistent with the one Crawford had been wearing at the time of the shooting. It was located on the lower roof of the rear of a Weld Avenue residence facing the rear of Dixwell Street. Investigators also recovered five shell casings at the scene of the gunfire.

Innocent, etc.