Two people were killed and others wounded as the result of a spate of shootings overnight Friday into Saturday. Officials believe some of the shootings were connected to parties ahead of Boston’s Caribbean Festival.
The first fatal shooting happened Saturday around 1:40 a.m. in Dorchester. Officers responded to a call of a shooting at 58 Westville St. The male victim, who police have not formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second shooting happened in Jamaica Plain at 454 Centre St. near South Huntington Avenue outside a 7-Eleven convenience store around 3:30 a.m. Police found the victim, a man in his 30s, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the hospital.
The Centre Street shooting victim appeared to be targeted, according to The Boston Globe, and was not part of any of the parties where the other shootings occurred. According to residents in the area, the victim was a well-known panhandler in the area. One resident saw him Friday night and said he was smiling as usual, and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Witnesses to the Westville Street shooting reported hearing multiple gunshots. One woman came upon the scene shortly after the man was shot. She told the Globe:
She saw a woman who appeared to be in her 20s crying over the young man as he lay on his back, and several other people who stood watching.
Police performed CPR on the man, but stopped before the ambulance arrived, appearing to give up, she said.
“I looked death in the face,” the woman said. “That was kind of sad.”
Police have not made an arrest in either shooting. Anyone who has information is asked to call Boston Police homicide detectives at 617-343-4470. People who want to leave a tip anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS, or texting ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
