BOSTON — Eight people were injured and four were arrested after a shooting in Dorchester Saturday morning.
According to police, a call for reports of shots fired came in around 7:43 a.m. at Blue Hill Ave. and Talbot Ave.
Six adult males and two adult females were shot, according to Boston Police. Five of the men and one of the women were taken to nearby hospitals. Two victims suffered graze wounds and declined treatment. All of the injuries are considered non-life threatening.
Police helped apply tourniquets to the victims until EMS personnel arrived. Police first stated there were seven shooting victims before upping the number to eight later in the afternoon.
Gerald Vick and Dwayne Francis, both 30 years old and from Dorchester, were arrested at the scene shortly after the shooting, according to BPD. Vick had a 9mm pistol with a large capacity magazine, equipped with a “Glock switch” that enabled the firearm to fire continuously, officials say. Francis was allegedly found with a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol.
Both men were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Police later obtained video showing two males involved in the initial spray of gunfire, BPD says.
21-year-old Sebastian Fernandez was shot in the leg during the exchange and limped into a nearby tow lot where he had a tourniquet applied to him by officers and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, BPD says.
Fernandez was arrested for the shooting and is currently under guard in a local hospital. No firearm was found.
The second individual shown on the video was able to initially escape the scene but officers were able to locate a 17-year-old male teen matching the suspect’s description on Westview Street around 1:50 p.m. The teen was found to be in possession of a Polymer 80 pistol equipped with a Glock switch, police say. He was arrested for firearm possession and his involvement in the shooting is under investigation.
In a press conference, Police Commissioner Michael Cox said the shooting is not related to the Caribbean Carnival Festival taking place nearby and the shooting occurred on the outskirts of the scheduled parade route.
Commissioner Cox said, “these individuals displayed a complete disregard for human life in the midst of one of the City’s cultural celebrations, endangering the lives of hundreds of people. We are proud of all of our officers for their quick and professional response in the speedy apprehension of these individuals. This should send a clear message to anyone who comes into our City that we will not stand for this type of violence and we will use all our means to identify you and apprehend you.”
Boston City Council President Ed Flynn released the following statement regarding the shooting:
“Today’s mass shooting highlights the gun violence crisis we are facing in the city. This is a public health and public safety emergency. Boston Police are confiscating and recovering guns at an alarming rate throughout the neighborhood. Now is the time to come together and develop a gun violence strategy in Boston,” Flynn said.
Flynn also added that the parade should be canceled.
“It’s heart-wrenching to hear a treasured community event disrupted by acts of violence from those who have nothing to do with the event,” Mayor Michelle Wu said.
Boston 25 crews on the scene also observed the window of a Boys & Girls Club Van shot out.
“We have no interest in having anything but peace among the universe and so it was very very difficult for me to know that something occurred when we work so hard to put on something that is a family-oriented event,” said Shirley Shillingford, a Caribbean Festival organizer. “We have these lawless people who just look for events like this to come out and do their lawless behavior,”
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden released the following statement:
”The scope of this tragedy is mitigated only by the fact that no one was killed. But we see, once again, the consequences of too many illegal guns in the hands of too many people willing to use them, with zero regard for anyone in the path of their bullets. This happened against the backdrop of a city celebration, but also against the backdrop of a nation that cannot fashion a rational policy on reducing gun violence. This joyous festival of Caribbean heritage may have been affected by senseless violence, but we stand with the many good people here today who will not let this violence define their cultural celebration.”
Reverend Kevin Peterson, leader of the New Democracy Coalition, called for the festival to be shut down until there is “absolute clarity about how everyone is safe at this event year after year.”
“Violence in the Black community in Boston must be condemned and members of our communities must turn in the violent perpetrators connected to this shooting. The Black community has a prime responsibility at addressing acts of anarchy in certain neighborhoods and at specific events like the Caribbean Festival,” said Peterson.
Mayor Wu added that the Caribbean Festival is a huge benefit to the City of Boston and is necessary for the city.
The remainder of Saturday’s scheduled events proceeded as scheduled.
Boston Police are asking anyone who has further knowledge of the shooting to contact them at 800-494-TIPS or 617-343-4712.
Vick and Francis are scheduled to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on Monday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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