In what's being described as a "pretty heinous act," a woman and a baby were shot last night in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. The incident took place around 11:40 p.m. near the intersection of Stratton and Ames streets, close to Harambee Park, as confirmed by the Boston police responding to a Shot Spotter alert and 911 calls. According to NBC Boston, officers arriving at the scene discovered both victims with gunshot wounds in a driveway.
Both the woman and baby were rapidly transported to local hospitals. The child has been reported to have life-threatening injuries, whereas the woman is anticipated to survive. No arrests had been made following the incident, and police actively canvassed the neighborhood for evidence and more information. As the night unfolded, Boston police and homicide detectives continued their search for the suspect or suspects responsible.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox remarked on the nature of the crime, stating, "This is a pretty heinous act in general, pretty cowardly," as reported by CBS Boston. "I can't think of any reason why somebody would want to shoot a female and a young child for any reason, so we really need the public's help and support on this one." The relationship between the two victims, as well as their connection, if any, to the shooter, had not been released to the public.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu echoed the sentiment, telling reporters, "There's no possible reason for violence in our city, especially when it comes to young people and our very young children. So, I'm horrified to have heard of the news." Mayor Wu ensured that the police department was diligently working the investigation and was seeking public assistance with any information that might shed light on the incident. In a plea for community engagement, Mayor Wu stated, "We are pushing out every resource that we can, particularly to make sure there's accountability in this case," as noted by CBS Boston.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Tips can be directed to Boston Police at 617-343-4470 or 1-800-494-TIPS. As the community deals with this violence, the story is still developing, with updates to come from official channels. WCVB reports that the shooting is still under thorough investigation by local authorities.
