This weekend got off to a very violent start in Boston, with a total of 10 people shot or stabbed in three separate incidents on Saturday.
Police say six men and two women were wounded by gunfire around 7:45 a.m. near the parade route for Boston's annual Caribbean festival but emphasized that it was not related to the event.
Two suspects were arrested and multiple weapons were recovered in Dorchester, according to Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
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Officers halted the parade because of the large crime scene and to gather evidence, but the remainder of the carnival events continued on Saturday.
Police believe the shooting might have erupted during an altercation between two groups near the intersection of Blue Hill and Talbot avenues and are asking for the public’s help with tips or video.
All eight people were taken to local hospitals and are expected to recover from their injuries. One of them -- a 21-year-old who was shot in the leg -- was taken into custody at the hospital and a 17-year-old was arrested hours later.
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“As a result of officers responding very quickly to the scene they were able to run towards not only the gunfire but actually to apply tourniquets and help all the victims of the gunshots and also arrest two suspects involved,” Cox said.
Mayor Michelle Wu said she was thankful to the city's first responders, especially the police who had a strong presence in the neighborhood, and that the rest of the day would be a really wonderful celebration of the carnival.
“We have no interest in having anything but peace among the universe and so it was very, very difficult for me this morning to know that something occurred,” said Shirley Shillingford, president of the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston.
Later Saturday, there was more violence on Blue Hill Avenue when a person was stabbed with a screw driver.
Boston police say officers responded to 493 Blue Hill Ave. around 6:13 p.m. and saw a man fleeing the area with a screw driver in his hand. He was stopped and placed into handcuffs. Police identified him Sunday as 62-year-old Michael Josey, of Boston, and said he was arrested on assault and battery charges.
The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Josey is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court. It wasn't immediately clear when his arraignment was scheduled for or if he had obtained an attorney.
A few hours later, another person was injured in a shooting on the same road less than a mile away. That victim was also taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive.
Neighbors with kids tell NBC10 Boston that all of this violence is making them anxious and they don't feel safe letting their children play outside.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
