Worcester PD 'Summer Impact' Starts Early Due To Youth Gun Violence

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Police Department will begin its annual "summer impact" policing surge early in 2024, partially due to a series of incidents where young people have either been killed or wounded in shootings.

The impact program was stared in 2005 to reduce violence during warmer months, but the department says it has in recent years tried to focus more community policing efforts.

A group of officials including City Manager Eric Batista, Mayor Joseph Petty and city councilors announced the start of the program Friday.

“Together, we acknowledge the recent rise in youth violence in the city of Worcester and the harmful impact it has had on our entire community,” the officials said. “Efforts to address recent incidents, as well as intervention and prevention, are a collective effort that require a thoughtful, intentional, holistic approach drive by a deep understanding of the systemic causes of violent behavior.”

Since the beginning of the year, Worcester has seen a series of shootings, including:

• A 16-year-old was arrested on Thursday in the shooting of a driver along Paine Street.
• On April 26, a 14-year-old died from a gunshot wound after a shooting inside a Rodney Street apartment. Two juveniles have been arrested.
• A 17-year-old was shot and killed in early February along Shannon Street. Two people have been arrested.
• Chasity Nunez and her daughter, Zella, 11, were shot and killed while sitting in their car along Lisbon Street. Two people have been arrested and charged.
• On April 7, two 18-year-old women and a 17-year-old boy were shot and injured along Clarkson Street. Four people have been arrested.
• Bob Nuah, 24, was shot and killed in April along Allendale Street. Police have identified a suspect, but have not arrested him.

The summer impact policing increase began Friday, and will focus on neighborhoods where gun violence has been most pronounced. Out of the incidents listed above, two have taken place in neighborhoods near Green Hill Park, and two have taken place in the Union Hill area.