Man with knife stabs one, fails in effort to commit suicide by cop

Boston Police report a Dorchester man went on a rampage with a knife Friday night after he called a friend out getting some food and the friend hung up on him.

Police say that when officers arrived at 1544 Dorchester Ave. around 11:50 p.m., they were met by a woman screaming hysterically and yelling: "Hurry and get upstairs before he kills them!"

Officers immediately opened the front door and observed two men near the second floor landing wrestling with each other, with one armed with a knife apparently stabbing the other male.

The officers ordered the stabber to drop his knife, but he began yelling "Kill me! Just kill me!" Instead, the officers rushed him to try to get him and his knife away from the victim - but the guy leaped up, ran up to the third floor and barricaded himself inside a room - woth a woman and her three kids.

At that time, officers learned that there were three children inside the house with the suspect as he yelled to officers, "Stay out or I'll kill the kids!" Officers continued to speak to the suspect and after a while were able to convince the suspect to release two of the children in the apartment. After the two children were released, the suspect continued to threaten to harm the third child if officers attempted to go in the apartment. Officers continued to talk to the suspect and after some time, he agreed that he would let the third child go if he was allowed to speak to his mother. The suspect’s mother responded to his location and after a lengthy discussion convinced him to release the third child. Shortly thereafter, the suspect surrendered and was placed under arrest.

Lazelle L. Williams, 22, of Boston was charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (knife), kidnapping, threats, assault by means of a dangerous weapon (knife), home invasion and assault with intent to murder.

Police say the nightmare began while Williams was visiting the house. When the man they found stabbed went out for some food, Williams called him and, when, they say, he got hung up on, he pulled a knife on the woman and vowed someone was going to die.