A Massachusetts State Police trooper faced a judge Thursday after being accused of opening fire on the Southeast Expressway. State Trooper Matthew Sheehan pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – his department-issued semi-automatic rifle. The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 24, 2018, on Interstate 93 south in Boston. Sheehan was one of 13 law enforcement officers trying to corral a group of people recklessly riding all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes on the highway. Officials said Sheehan opened fire. "Trooper Sheehan fired his assault rifle twice, hitting the ATV in the left front tire and hitting the named victim in the foot,” prosecutor John Verner said.Sheehan was interviewed by State Police investigators, who said his story changed over time."His original version of events was that the ATV was driving directly toward him. He later switched it to it was driving diagonally toward him,” Verner said.Sheehan was indicted last month. The district attorney said that even though the ATV was not posing a threat to the trooper, Sheehan had an ulterior motive for opening fire, which was revealed in hateful comments posted about news items on the website MassCops."A kind reading of these comments would say that the comments are racially tinged, promote violence, promote disparagement of women, poor people,” Verner said. "The commonwealth believes that those posts are admissible to show motive, intent and state of mind on the day of the incident."Sheehan was released on personal recognizance.

A Massachusetts State Police trooper faced a judge Thursday after being accused of opening fire on the Southeast Expressway.

State Trooper Matthew Sheehan pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – his department-issued semi-automatic rifle.


The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 24, 2018, on Interstate 93 south in Boston.

Sheehan was one of 13 law enforcement officers trying to corral a group of people recklessly riding all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes on the highway. Officials said Sheehan opened fire.

"Trooper Sheehan fired his assault rifle twice, hitting the ATV in the left front tire and hitting the named victim in the foot,” prosecutor John Verner said.

Sheehan was interviewed by State Police investigators, who said his story changed over time.

"His original version of events was that the ATV was driving directly toward him. He later switched it to it was driving diagonally toward him,” Verner said.

Sheehan was indicted last month. The district attorney said that even though the ATV was not posing a threat to the trooper, Sheehan had an ulterior motive for opening fire, which was revealed in hateful comments posted about news items on the website MassCops.

"A kind reading of these comments would say that the comments are racially tinged, promote violence, promote disparagement of women, poor people,” Verner said. "The commonwealth believes that those posts are admissible to show motive, intent and state of mind on the day of the incident."

Sheehan was released on personal recognizance.