Friday Shooting Victim IDed as Michael DePina, Peace Activist's Brother

Haley Hamilton — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 10:37:03 -0400

Michael DePina, 29, of Dorchester, has been identified as Friday night's shooting victim.

Just after 8:40 p.m. Friday Boston Police officers arrived on the scene near 5 Taft Street, in Dorchester, and found DePina suffering from gun shot wounds near an overturned motorcycle. DePina was taken to Boston Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

On Monday, DePina's older brother spoke out, addressing his brother's unknown killer:

"I just want to know why. What did Michael say to you? ... And then I want to ask him, was it worth it?" Joao DePina told the Boston Globe. "I want to ask him if he could find it in his heart to apologize to us, to our family."

No arrests have been made in the case.

DePina, a Dorchester peace advocate and political activist, called for peace and improved mental healthcare for underprivileged youth on the Sunday following his brother's death. He vowed to continue to work to help young people in the Dorchester community.

"My [call] is to please, please stop killing each other," he said.

Michael DePina is the seventeenth male homicide victim under 30 this year.

Michael DePina | Homicide Watch Boston

Friday Shooting Victim IDed as Michael DePina, Peace Activist's Brother