The usually buttoned-up halls of Dorchester District Court turned chaotic Wednesday morning when a melee involving five men broke out on the building’s second floor, interrupting morning business at the courthouse on Washington Street. Officers responded to reports of a fight and arrested five people. Authorities have not yet said what sparked the altercation.
Boston police later identified four of those taken into custody as 19-year-old Syncere Johnson, 20-year-old Damontay Brown, 19-year-old Shamar Passley-Clark and 19-year-old Terrel Stokes, along with a 17-year-old juvenile whose name is being withheld because of his age. All five are charged with affray and disrupting court proceedings, according to Boston 25 News.
The juvenile faces additional counts, including assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a police officer, police said. Officers also reported that while they were waiting for transport, a handcuffed man kicked another detainee and then tried to spit on him, with the saliva instead striking an officer. The department said that “An investigation is ongoing,” according to Boston 25 News.
What Affray Charges Mean
Affray is generally understood as fighting in a public place in a way that disturbs the peace. Black’s Law Dictionary defines it as “the fighting of two or more persons in some public place, to the terror of the people.” TheLaw.com notes the term’s common-law roots and explains that it is distinct from related offenses such as riot.
What’s Next for the Case
Cases like this move through the district court system, where arraignments and any detention hearings would be scheduled in the days or weeks ahead. Police said the investigation remains active and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
