A Dorchester man who had been arrested on gun charges after the Caribbean Festival mass shooting last week is now accused of shooting six of the eight victims, according to Boston Police.
Gerald Vick, 30, had been arrested near the annual J’ouvert Parade, part of Boston’s Caribbean Festival, following the gunfire on Saturday morning, Aug. 26.
When Boston Police officers took Vick into custody, officers found a 9mm pistol with a large capacity magazine — equipped with a “Glock switch” that enables the gun to fire continuously. Vick was initially charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Now, Boston Police have charged him with shooting six of the eight victims. Vick has been charged with: six counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon — firearm; armed assault to murder; unlawful possession of a machine gun; unlawful possession of a firearm — subsequent offense; armed career criminal; discharging a firearm within 500′ of a dwelling; and possession of a large capacity feeding device.
Six adult males and two females were shot in the Talbot Avenue shooting. Six of the victims were transported to area hospitals, and two of the victims with graze wounds declined treatment. The victim’s injuries were considered non-life threatening, according to police.
Officers at the mass shooting scene also arrested Dorchester man Dwayne Francis, 30, on gun charges.
According to Suffolk DA prosecutors, Vick and Francis were among two rival groups antagonizing each other across Talbot Avenue near the Boys and Girls Club as the festivities kicked off that morning. As officers began to approach the groups, multiple gunshots rang out.
“Party goers began to dive for cover and run in all directions as they were in fear of being shot,” one arrest report reads.
“Historically, the weekend Caribbean Carnival Festival has elevated levels of violence,” a police report reads.
During the festival in 2022, there were five non-fatal shootings, one homicide and seven firearm recoveries. In 2021, there were two non-fatal shootings, one homicide and four firearm recoveries. Four non-fatal shootings, one homicide and eight firearm recoveries were reported in 2020, the report reads.
Vick is scheduled to appear in Dorchester District Court on Friday.