Read’s defense attorneys argued that O’Keefe, who allegedly had a long-standing disagreement with someone at the party, was severely injured during an argument at the party and may have been attacked by a dog given the deep wounds on his arm.

Hours after Karen Read was acquitted Wednesday for the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer by striking him with her car in a snowstorm in 2022, the two bars here where the couple partied that fatal night were largely quiet.

While many say they are glad it’s finally over, others say the case has caused division not only for residents but for local businesses.