BOSTON, Jumada II 21, 1436, Apr 10, 2015, SPA -- Massachusetts officials on Friday released video footage showing the near-fatal shooting of a Boston police officer last month by a man who was subsequently shot dead by other officers, Reuters reported. The decision to release the footage comes amid protests in several major U.S. cities over a series of killings of civilians in recent months. The latest occurred last Saturday when a white officer in South Carolina was videotaped shooting an unarmed black man as he fled after a traffic stop. "It is in everyone's best interest to share (this) information as soon as possible in order to tamp down speculation and rumors meant to inflame and not inform," Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said at a news conference. -- SPA 22:20 LOCAL TIME 19:20 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w