A Boston police report reveals new details about a mass shooting Saturday that occurred against the backdrop of the city’s annual Caribbean Carnival celebration.
In all, 8 people were shot, according to the police report, and four were arrested as a result of the investigation into the shooting. Two more people were arrested and charged with weapons offenses after the initial chaos. Victims included 6 men and two women.
Police also made at least 2 other arrests on weapons charges Saturday.
Officers assigned to parade detail responded to Talbot Avenue adjacent to the J’ouvert parade, which annually rings in the day’s Caribbean Carnival, just before 8 a.m. Saturday, where they found eight people injured by gunfire. A shot-spotter nearby recorded 12 gunshots, according to the police report.
“These individuals displayed a complete disregard for human life in the midst of one of the City’s cultural celebrations, endangering the lives of hundreds of people,” Police Commissioner Michael Cox said in remarks after the shooting.
The shooting was not related to the parade, police said.
Four were arrested as a direct result of the early morning violence, which sent six victims to the hospital. Two victims declined medical treatment. All victims are expected to recover, a BPD spokesperson said Sunday.
One of the alleged shooters, Sebastian Fernandez, 21, had been shot in the leg and fled the scene on foot.
“Detectives from B-3 canvassed the area and obtained video which showed two males involved in the initial gunfire. One of the males involved in the shootout was shot in the leg during the exchange and limped into the tow lot after the shooting where he had a tourniquet applied to him by officers and was transported to a local hospital for treatment,” police said. Fernandez was placed under arrest for the shooting and remains under guard at the hospital, according to police.
Gerald Vick, 30 and Dwayne Francis, 30, both of Dorchester, were taken into custody at the scene of the shooting. Both men were unlawfully armed with 9mm pistols, according to police, and the firearm allegedly found in Vick’s possession had been modified to fire automatically.
“Both suspects were transported to District 3 and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and will be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on Monday,” the Boston Police said in a statement.
A fourth person was arrested hours later after police broadcast a description of a male shooting suspect seen on video fleeing on foot. Officers say they later encountered an unidentified 17-year-old matching that description and carrying a pistol modified to fire automatically. His involvement in the morning shooting is being investigated, police said.
Separately, after 9 a.m. officers assigned to the parade were flagged down by revelers and told a man with a gun was in the area. Police arrived near 590 Blue Hill Avenue to find an assault in progress. Police say one person involved in the violence was “holding his waistband.”
“Officers attempted to apprehend the suspect, and were pushed by another suspect in the group. Officers were able to place one person into handcuffs, while the rest of the group fled the area. Officers recovered a spring-loaded knife from the suspect. Officers continued to canvas the area and located an Airsoft Glock Style pistol,” police said.
John Davis, 32, of Boston, was charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, and unlawful carry of a dangerous weapon.
At 5:04 p.m., police assigned to the Caribbean Carnival say they were made aware that Limondji Simon, 26, of Medford, was seen carrying a firearm in a fanny pack. Police found Simon standing with another man. That’s when they say he reached for the fanny pack.
“The suspect attempted to reach for the firearm, and a violent struggle ensued. Officers were attempting to handcuff one suspect, and the other suspect attempted to pull the fanny pack from officers. With the assistance of responding officers, the suspect was handcuffed, and the other suspect fled the scene,” police said.
In addition, Police also made at least two other weapons related arrests Saturday.
Around 3 p.m., officers say they encountered Nakhi Cox-Obryant, 18, of Dorchester on Blue Hill Avenue when they noticed she was carrying a gun. Police recovered a 9mm pistol and charged her with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and possession of a large capacity feeding device.
Two hours later, police say detectives assigned to the department’s youth violence task force responded to a shots fired call in the area of Old Road. Police say they arrived to find Maceo Withers-Brewer, 21, of Boston in possession of an automatic firearm. The 21-year-old was charged with possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of ammunition, resisting arrest, and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
After the morning shooting, City Council President Ed Flynn urged organizers to call off the rest of the day’s events citing a shortage of BPD officers and 911 operators, a call echoed by Pastor Bruce Wall of The Global Ministries Christian Church in Dorchester.
Boston Caribbean Carnival President Shirley Shillingford said that it is difficult to “know that something occurred when we work so hard, so incredibly hard to put on something that is more of a family oriented event and peaceful.”
