Boston police are investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy after a daylight shooting in the Mattapan section of the city Thursday afternoon.
Officers responding to a reported shooting at 35 Fessenden Street just after 2 p.m. found one victim apparently with a gunshot wound, city officials said at a news conference. The unidentified victim was rushed to hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said there was no threat to public safety at this time. Hayden said the presence of firearms in the community posed a danger.
“Unfortunately, here we are another sad and tragic afternoon which frankly stems from too many guns on the street,” Hayden said. “A young loss of life like this is simply unacceptable. It is tragic and simply indescribable.
“These guns on the street are causing havoc,” Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said.
“It’s a horrible tragedy for the whole city every time one of our young people is lost,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said. “For a kid this age to be lost to gun violence is a nightmare in the summer, when our children should be having fun, having fun, playing and growing up.”
Authorities said it was too early in the investigation to determine specific details of the incident, such as whether the boy was shot by someone else or accidentally shot himself.
Police could be seen searching Mattapan’s triple-storey backyard surrounded by crime scene tape.
Anyone with information related to the shooting is asked to call the Boston Police Homicide Division.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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