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5 Investigates: Suspect in Boston police shooting wrote of Islamic ‘rebirth,’ had several aliases

Kirk Figueroa, 33, was a sworn constable in Boston

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5 Investigates: Suspect in Boston police shooting wrote of Islamic ‘rebirth,’ had several aliases

Kirk Figueroa, 33, was a sworn constable in Boston

5 Investigates uncovered six aliases used by Kirk Figueroa, the man killed by Boston police after he shot two officers on Wednesday night in East Boston. Watch the report He took on an alias as he experienced what he called an Islamic "rebirth" in Africa. The aliases, along with his seeming obsession with police and security, help make Figueroa a picture of contradictions and confusion: a 33-year-old man who started at least three companies in Florida and other states focused on security and protection who yesterday nearly killed two police officers responding to a domestic violence call. 5 Investigates uncovered a job posting for "Police Protection" for one of those companies, Bailrunners. In it, Figueroa identifies himself as Muhummed Isa Al Mahdi. The ad said Al Mahdi was looking for people interested in helping him "hunt down fugitives and bring them to justice." Video: Shooting suspect's troubled past5 Investigates also discovered a posting from Muhummed Isa on a website guide for mosques from October 2012. Isa wrote about his "rebirth as a baby into the Nation of Islam" following a trip to an area of Ethiopia and a mosque in South Africa.Isa went on, writing that his unique and blessed journey was prepared and guided by Allah.Most recently, Figueroa was using the name Kocoa Xango on social media, identifying himself as a police constable. His last post under that name came just a few hours before the fatal shooting, posting a video by Michelle Obama and then a picture of himself after getting a haircut. Video: Were warning signs missed? Earlier this month under that alias, he also posted numerous videos about police shootings. Under yet a different apparent alias, Kham Menkaure Hotep, he posted a rap video of himself. Records obtained by 5 Investigates show his long interest in security and police affairs. He took numerous classes on the topic, everything from homeland security to tactical baton use. The car towed from in front of his home resembled an undercover police car. Yet 5 Investigates also found Figueroa had a criminal past dating back to at least 2005, when he was arrested in Georgia for impersonating a police officer. A police officer described what happened after he pulled Figueroa over for speeding and changing lanes without signaling. "Mr. Figueroa stated 'I was just going to tell you I'm in law enforcement, I just thought you should know that,'" he said, according to the report, adding he worked for "Suffolk County Police" in New York. That charged was dismissed, but trouble came again in 2010 when he was arrested for arson after setting his own car on fire and also for impersonating a private investigator. He pleaded guilty to the arson charge and his case was later discharged under Georgia's First Offender Act. The impersonation charge was dropped, court records show. The arson case was used by Florida authorities to justify denying him a private investigator's license. Figueroa's work history is scattered over the years, including a stint for about a week as a correction officer in West Virginia in 2014. He resigned before completing basic orientation or attending the training academy, citing "another employment opportunity," according to Lawrence Messina, an assistant secretary at the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. 5 Investigates also learned he claimed to have served in the armed forces, but that claim was false. "Mr. Figueroa never attended basic training or advanced individual training," an Army spokesperson said. "He did enlist in the U.S. Army Reserve in February, 2003, but received a hardship discharge five months later." Get the WCVB News App

5 Investigates uncovered six aliases used by Kirk Figueroa, the man killed by Boston police after he shot two officers on Wednesday night in East Boston.

Watch the report

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He took on an alias as he experienced what he called an Islamic "rebirth" in Africa.

The aliases, along with his seeming obsession with police and security, help make Figueroa a picture of contradictions and confusion: a 33-year-old man who started at least three companies in Florida and other states focused on security and protection who yesterday nearly killed two police officers responding to a domestic violence call.

5 Investigates uncovered a job posting for "Police Protection" for one of those companies, Bailrunners. In it, Figueroa identifies himself as Muhummed Isa Al Mahdi. The ad said Al Mahdi was looking for people interested in helping him "hunt down fugitives and bring them to justice."

Video: Shooting suspect's troubled past

5 Investigates also discovered a posting from Muhummed Isa on a website guide for mosques from October 2012. Isa wrote about his "rebirth as a baby into the Nation of Islam" following a trip to an area of Ethiopia and a mosque in South Africa.

Isa went on, writing that his unique and blessed journey was prepared and guided by Allah.

Most recently, Figueroa was using the name Kocoa Xango on social media, identifying himself as a police constable. His last post under that name came just a few hours before the fatal shooting, posting a video by Michelle Obama and then a picture of himself after getting a haircut.

Video: Were warning signs missed?

Earlier this month under that alias, he also posted numerous videos about police shootings.

Under yet a different apparent alias, Kham Menkaure Hotep, he posted a rap video of himself.

Records obtained by 5 Investigates show his long interest in security and police affairs. He took numerous classes on the topic, everything from homeland security to tactical baton use. The car towed from in front of his home resembled an undercover police car.

Yet 5 Investigates also found Figueroa had a criminal past dating back to at least 2005, when he was arrested in Georgia for impersonating a police officer.

A police officer described what happened after he pulled Figueroa over for speeding and changing lanes without signaling.

"Mr. Figueroa stated 'I was just going to tell you I'm in law enforcement, I just thought you should know that,'" he said, according to the report, adding he worked for "Suffolk County Police" in New York.

That charged was dismissed, but trouble came again in 2010 when he was arrested for arson after setting his own car on fire and also for impersonating a private investigator. He pleaded guilty to the arson charge and his case was later discharged under Georgia's First Offender Act. The impersonation charge was dropped, court records show.

The arson case was used by Florida authorities to justify denying him a private investigator's license.

Figueroa's work history is scattered over the years, including a stint for about a week as a correction officer in West Virginia in 2014.

He resigned before completing basic orientation or attending the training academy, citing "another employment opportunity," according to Lawrence Messina, an assistant secretary at the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

5 Investigates also learned he claimed to have served in the armed forces, but that claim was false.

"Mr. Figueroa never attended basic training or advanced individual training," an Army spokesperson said. "He did enlist in the U.S. Army Reserve in February, 2003, but received a hardship discharge five months later."

Get the WCVB News App