Deadly Dorchester Shooting Latest In String Of Violence
BOSTON (CBS) – A violent stretch in Boston continued Friday night when a man was fatally shot in Dorchester.
Boston city leaders held a community meeting Friday to address the recent spate of violence on the city's streets. Five people were killed over just three days last weekend.
Then, Friday night around 9:30 p.m., gunshots rang out in the area of Columbia Road and Geneva Avenue.
A man in his 30s was rushed to an area hospital but did not survive. This marked the city's 46th homicide of the year, slightly up from one year ago.
Mayor Marty Walsh said police are investigating as the city grapples with the latest spate of violence.
"They're looking into who the shooters were last night, you know, look at the circumstances surrounding each of those shootings. We don't have all that spelled out right now," Walsh said.
Early Saturday morning, another person was shot on Rockford Street. That person was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. The shootings come just hours after Boston city leaders held a community meeting to address the recent spate of violence on the city's streets.
Five people were killed over just three days last weekend.
"We got to be better than this and we are better than that as a city, and we do have to continue to reach out to people," Walsh said.
No arrests have been made in the shootings.
City leaders and residents are hoping to curb violence through mentoring and providing youth with opportunities so they don't choose the path of violence.
On Saturday, Walsh took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Vine Street Community Center, which just underwent a $5 million renovation.
Asad Hardwick says this center kept him off the streets and out of trouble.
"It was my first experience as far as employment, my first experience as far as picking what sport I want to play, and it was here for me when I needed to have a focused place to do my homework," Hardwick said.
Makaiya Sumerlia said the center is a haven for city youth.
"I know it's frightening and being here, it helps you to protect yourself and to protect others," she said.
Wilson Ferreira agreed.
"It means so much for me to be here right now. I'm holding back tears," Ferreira said at the center. "It's hard, it's hard because, me for instance, coming from the streets and actually coming here, it changed me, you know. It made me into the man I am."
Anyone with information on the recent shootings is asked to call police.
