A search for a suspect remains ongoing after a man was fatally shot Saturday afternoon inside a home in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, prompting Mayor Michelle Wu to respond to renewed calls for the city to do more to address gun violence.
Boston police initially responded to Weaver Way shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday for a reported shooting and found a victim with a gunshot wound. The man was pronounced dead on scene; his name has not yet been released.
Deputy Supt. James Miller said Saturday that detectives didn't yet know if the victim lived at the housing complex where the shooting occurred, or was visiting.
Miller added that they were searching for a suspect but he did not release any other information. Detectives were back at the crime scene on Sunday to gather more evidence.
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A pair of sisters spoke to NBC10 Boston on Sunday and said while they've lived in the area for several years, they are now concerned for their safety.
"My little sister looked out the window and we saw like a bunch of cops and we were just wondering what happened. We didn't hear anything the night before, we didn't hear any arguing or shots or anything like that. We just looked out and it was crazy," they said.
"It's obviously a tragedy any time this happens," Miller said of Saturday's fatal shooting. "One's too many for any neighborhood."
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The latest deadly shooting prompted renewed calls for action this weekend from community leaders like Rev. Kevin Peterson, with the New Democracy Coalition, who say they're very concerned about what's happening.
"We unfortunately live within a triangle of homicide and death, that extends from the South End, includes Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan, where there is persistent homicide and murder, unlike any other place in the city, so we're disturbed that there isn't a clear and comprehensive public safety plan being presented that could perhaps get guns off the street and that could perhaps save lives," Peterson said.
"These types of incidents are all too common in specific neighborhoods. The community is traumatized," he added. "We need to embrace each other and seek solutions in the long run."
The reverend is once again calling on the mayor and police commissioner to work with the community and come up with a public safety plan to address the issue.
"The mayor would do well by reaching out to those who are being victimized and showing the community that she is a caring mayor," he said, before emphasizing that he believes Wu "is a caring mayor."
Wu released a statement Sunday night responding to the situation, saying, "Nothing else matters in our city if people don't feel safe and welcome in their homes and their communities."
"We will not stop until violence is eradicated in our city," she added. "I personally go through the data weekly, visit BPD during their meetings when they're discussing Citywide trends, and stay in touch with them regarding when we need to draw on other resources and coordinate other agencies with a particular focus on youth safety."
But Peterson said he worries that as the weather gets warmer, the violence will only get worse.
"We're headed towards a very bloody and very deadly summer if we do not devise a plan collectively to work around saving lives," he said.
The public is being asked to help in this investigation, which remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call the Boston Police Department's homicide unit at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tips can be called into the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS, or texted to CRIME (27463) with the word 'TIP'.
