A 15-year-old boy was arrested Monday after gunfire broke out in the parking lot of the Burger King at 100 Washington St. in Dorchester, leaving another teenager with a gunshot wound to the foot. Boston police said the victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
Scene and response
According to Boston police, officers were dispatched at 2:43 p.m. for a report of a person with a gun. At the same time, units on directed patrol near the Dr. Albert D. Holland School of Technology reported hearing what sounded like a single gunshot.
When officers reached the Burger King lot, they found a teenage boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his foot and provided medical aid until Boston EMS transported him to a local hospital. Investigators also located ballistic evidence in the parking lot, according to NBC Boston.
Chase and arrest
A radio call went out describing the suspect as having fled on a black moped toward Vaughn Avenue. Officers later found someone who matched that description at the rear of 19 Vaughan Avenue.
"Police eventually found a person matching the description of the suspect in the rear of 19 Vaughan Avenue, with a blue tarp concealing a moped," NBC Boston reported. The teen ran when he spotted officers but was caught after a brief foot chase and taken into custody.
Weapon recovered and charges
Police said officers recovered a 9 mm Taurus 709 Slim handgun loaded with four rounds, along with the moped and clothing that matched the description broadcast over the radio.
The 15-year-old now faces several charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, assault and battery by means of discharging a firearm, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court.
Police programs and local context
Boston Police say they have ongoing enforcement and prevention initiatives aimed at youth violence in Dorchester, combining patrol efforts with social-service partnerships and the Youth Violence Strike Force.
The department highlights its YouthConnect program, which places licensed social workers alongside specialized units in neighborhoods such as Dorchester, as described by the Boston Police Department.
What happens next
If prosecutors proceed with the case, it will move through the juvenile-court system, where a judge, probation officials and the district attorney's office will determine next steps and whether the case remains in Juvenile Court.
Procedures for delinquency and care-and-protection matters in Massachusetts are governed by Juvenile Court rules and standing orders, outlined by Mass.gov.
