Afternoon traffic on Dorchester Avenue turned chaotic Friday when gunfire broke out along a busy block, leaving one person wounded and storefronts rattled. Witnesses described people ducking for cover as police and EMTs rushed in. Boston police said the victim’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
What police and witnesses said
According to Boston 25 News, officers said a group jumped out of a car and opened fire on Dorchester Avenue at about 3:23 p.m. Witnesses told the station that a young man who had been shot made his way up the street to the Avenue Grill with help from friends. Workers in the area said they first heard a heated argument on Mt. Vernon Street, followed by three sharp gunshots. The gunman’s car then sped off, and police told the outlet they expect the victim to be okay.
Where it happened
The gunfire broke out in a commercial stretch near the Avenue Grill, a longtime neighborhood pizzeria on Dorchester Avenue. The restaurant’s website lists its address on the avenue, and officers were later seen working the block, marking shell casings and gathering evidence.
Neighborhood context
The shooting unfolded during a rough week for Dorchester, which has seen several incidents of gun violence. Earlier this week, an early-morning shooting on Dacia Street left one person in critical condition, according to The Boston Globe. Local outlets have noted multiple recent shootings across the neighborhood, with officers canvassing blocks and detectives working leads.
Boston police are continuing to investigate the Dorchester Avenue shooting. Officers remained on scene Friday as the case stayed active, Boston 25 News reported.
