A violent incident erupted in Dorchester, Boston, on Saturday, resulting in the arrest of four individuals and injuries to eight others. The Boston Police Department reported that the shooting occurred around 7:43 a.m. near the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Talbot Avenue. The area was crowded with attendees of the J’ouvert Parade, a component of Boston’s Caribbean Festival.
Two 30-year-old men, Gerald Vick and Dwayne Francis, were apprehended at the scene shortly after the shooting. Vick was found in possession of a 9mm pistol with a large capacity magazine and a “Glock switch,” a device that enables the firearm to shoot continuously. Francis was also found with a weapon, a loaded 9mm pistol.
Both Vick and Francis were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. During the incident, six men and two women were shot. Five men and one woman were transported to the hospital for treatment, while two victims with minor injuries declined medical attention.
The Boston Police Department obtained video footage showing two men initiating the gunfire. One of the men, 21-year-old Sebastian Fernandez, was shot in the leg during the incident. He managed to reach a nearby tow lot, where officers applied a tourniquet before transporting him to a hospital for treatment. Fernandez was subsequently arrested in connection with the shooting and is currently under guard at the hospital. No firearm was found on him.
The second individual involved in the initial gunfire managed to flee the scene but was later apprehended. Police officers located a 17-year-old male matching the suspect’s description on Westview Street. The teen was found in possession of a Polymer 80 pistol with a Glock switch and was arrested for firearm possession. He is currently under investigation for his potential involvement in the shooting.
Following the incident, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox addressed the public. Wu expressed gratitude to the Boston Police Department for their swift response and to the EMS and first responders for their service. She assured the public that the suspects were in custody and multiple weapons had been recovered. Cox condemned the individuals involved for their disregard for human life, particularly during a city cultural celebration.