Crime & Safety
Dorchester Shooting Near School: 1 Dead, 3 Injured
Police say shooter struck four people, killed a 17-year-old Burke High School student.
A teenager was shot dead near Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, and three other victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said Wednesday.
Police Commissioner William Evans identified the deceased as a 17-year-old student, but did not disclose his name. The incident occurred about half a block away from the school. Three others, including a 67-year-old woman and two other teenagers, were also struck by bullets.
"We need the public to be outraged," Evans said.
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Evans said this confirms "there are too many guns on the street," and called on the public for assistance identifying the perpetrator.
"When a 17-year-old dies on the street after leaving school... if the public isn't stepping up on something like this, something is wrong," Evans said. "Call us and get this thing solved. We can't let this happen in or around our schools."
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Evans told reporters it was too early to know whether the incident was a targeted attack, gang-related incident, scuffle between teenagers or any other scenario.
Police are examining footage from area surveillance cameras and conducting witness interviews, but at this time have not identified a suspect or even the manner in which the shooting took place. Evans promised police will protect the identity of anyone who comes forward with information, saying there should be no fear of retaliation.
Police will release the student's name once they notify his next of kin, Evans said.
Officers remain on-scene as the investigation continues.
Multiple schools temporarily went into "safe mode" in response to the incident.
#breaking: multiple shooting near Burke School in Dorchester. #wcvb pic.twitter.com/Ns5uWoV8PL
— russnelligan (@russnelligan) June 8, 2016
Mayor Marty Walsh, fresh off a plane home from China, also made a last-minute appearance at the press conference.
"One homicide is too many homicides," Walsh said. "A 17-year-old kid shouldn't be dead today. He should be getting ready for the summer and a summer job, instead of his family having to bury him."
Walsh said trauma counseling will be available for Burke students Thursday.
Story updated 4:30 p.m.
>> Photo by Steve Cooper, WHDH Channel 7
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