A summer night at Roxbury’s Puerto Rican Festival took a jarring turn Saturday when gunfire cracked through the air and a 15-year-old ended up in handcuffs, according to police.
Officers say they arrested the juvenile on Seaver Street after a brief struggle and recovered a firearm that had fallen from his waistband. The shooting was reported around 7:49 p.m. near Franklin Park’s Playstead area, just as crowds were starting to disperse from the festivities.
According to Boston 25 News, officers were assigned to patrol the parade route when they heard gunshots coming from inside Franklin Park. A male allegedly emerged from bushes near the giraffe entrance, fired several shots into the air, made eye contact with officers, then fired another round before running toward Seaver Street. Police say that during the ensuing struggle on Seaver Street, a revolver fell from the suspect’s waistband and was recovered.
Festival Route And Police Presence
Per Boston.gov, the Puerto Rican Parade and Festival route for the July 26 celebration ran along Columbus Avenue, turned onto Seaver Street and continued into Franklin Park. City traffic advisories were in place for the event.
That route funneled large crowds into the Playstead area of Franklin Park, where officers had been assigned to patrol during the parade and festival.
Charges And Next Steps
The juvenile is expected to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on multiple weapons counts, including carrying a loaded firearm without a license, four counts of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and resisting arrest, according to Boston 25 News. The outlet reports that investigators are continuing their review and that the situation remains under investigation.
Broader Context
Boston Police have recently reported other arrests of teenagers on weapons charges as part of broader enforcement around neighborhood shootings and large summer events. In a July 15 search-warrant operation in Roxbury, officers recovered a firearm and clothing tied to a shots-fired investigation, per the Boston Police Department. An earlier department posting detailed a 17-year-old arrested with a loaded handgun in Jamaica Plain, according to the Boston Police Department.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as police release more information and as court proceedings are scheduled, based on public filings and official statements.
