A midday burst of gunfire at a South End intersection set off a chain of events Thursday that ended with multiple arrests, a barricaded suspect situation, and the recovery of a loaded firearm in Roxbury.
BOSTON, MA – At about 1:03 p.m. Thursday, a sergeant assigned to District D-4 (South End) was stopped at a red light at Dearborn Street and Dudley Street when multiple shots rang out nearby. The sergeant observed a suspect run toward a vehicle and flee in the direction of Melnea Cass Boulevard, prompting an immediate radio broadcast with the suspect’s description and direction of travel.
Officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) located the vehicle along the Massachusetts Avenue connector and conducted a traffic stop. The suspect, later identified as David Carrasquillo, 24, of Roxbury, was taken into custody. Officers recovered a holstered Smith and Wesson M&P M2.0 firearm from his waist with one round in the chamber and four rounds in the magazine.
Investigation traces gunfire across multiple streets
Detectives assigned to District B-2 reviewed video footage that showed Carrasquillo firing a weapon toward Zeigler Street. Ballistic evidence was recovered from the scene, and investigators identified additional gunfire activity involving three individuals on Zeigler Street, two of whom were seen returning fire.
As officers canvassed the area, they located multiple vehicles with ballistic damage. Additional evidence was collected along Dearborn Street and Zeigler Street, linking the shooting activity across multiple locations.
Barricade declared after suspects enter Roxbury residence
Members of the Youth Violence Strike Force recovered ballistic evidence behind 121 Zeigler Street. Detectives determined that three individuals involved in the exchange of gunfire had entered the residence, prompting officers to establish a perimeter.
The on-scene commander declared a barricaded suspect situation and requested SWAT and negotiators. After negotiations, three males and one female exited the residence. The property was secured pending a search warrant.
Eliel Pena, 19, of Roxbury, and David Ortiz, 19, of Boston, were arrested and transported for booking. A third male and a female who exited the residence were released following further investigation.
Pena and Ortiz are expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court on charges including assault and battery with a firearm, assault and battery attempt with a firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
Carrasquillo is expected to be arraigned on three counts of assault and battery attempt with a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
