In the pre-dawn hours of Friday, Boston police officers arrested 30-year-old Yanni Julien from Randolph on various firearm-related charges after a routine traffic stop turned up a gun. The arrest occurred around 2:20 AM when officers patrolling the Roxbury district, specifically near Blue Hill Avenue and Columbia Road, were on the lookout for a suspect connected to a shooting incident on Geneva Avenue. Boston Police Department's news release provided a description of a stolen moped and potential suspect for officers to act upon.
During their patrol, officers came across two mopeds at an intersection, one which immediately fled after officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop with their cruiser's emergency signals. The other moped, ridden by Julien, stopped for the officers. During the stop, an exploratory pat frisk of Julien by officers led to the discovery of a firearm within a fanny bag across his chest. Upon feeling the weapon, Julien tried escaping but was promptly arrested.
Recovered from Julien's possession was a Taurus 62S handgun which, during inspection, was found to be loaded with one round in the chamber and five additional rounds in the magazine. Julien, who was placed under arrest at the scene, is facing charges including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and charges related to operating and maintaining the moped without proper documentation and insurance.
Julien's arraignment is set to take place at the Dorchester District Court. With various charges mounted against him, the recovery of the firearm by the police possibly prevented further potential escalation of violence in the already tense wake of the Geneva Avenue shooting. Details about whether Julien has any connection to the earlier incident have not been released by the local authorities at this time.
