Sean Collier Identified As Boston Police Officer Who Was Killed In MIT Firefight

Sean Collier has been identified as the MIT police officer who died last night in an incident connected to the bombing at the Boston marathon.

Sean Collier, 26, of Somerville, Mass., responded to a disturbance on the MIT campus and was shot by two men who are suspects in the case.

In a press release from the Middlesex District, MIT police chief John DiFava said Collier was "a dedicated officer who was extremely well liked by his colleagues and the MIT community."

Collier was pronounced dead upon arrival last night at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was found around 10:30 p.m. when between Vassar and Main streets, about 10 minutes after the first gun shots were reported on the MIT campus

Somerville Mayor Joesph Curtatone said. "He was an outstanding employee for us. I have no doubt he was also an incredible officer for MIT." Collier worked in the Somerville Police Department information technology department before he joined the MIT police in January 2012. 

Curtatone said Collier was a top candidate in training before he was even appointed to the Somerville Police Department.  He helped build the Somerville Police Department website. Even after he changed jobs to work at MIT, he helped maintain the website.

Somerville and regional police are engaged in an ongoing manhunt for suspects in the case, which occurred on Monday. Three people were killed and dozens were injured. One suspect is dead and one is still at large.  The suspect who is still at large is  Dzhokar Tzarnaev, 19, brother of Tamerlan Tzarnev, 26. The brothers are from Chechnya. A transit officer, Richard Donahue, Jr has been injured.

Watertown, Mass remains on lockdown this morning. Police told press to get back because they were "going to get hurt". Gov Patrick has urged the entire city of Boston to stay indoors and only answer to law enforcement officers with ID. All local schools are closed. MTBA, Boston's public transit system, has been suspended in Watertown, Cambridge, Newton, and Boston. Amtrak service has also been suspended between Boston and Providence, RI.