A 12-year-old boy died in a shooting in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood on Thursday, and police say a man has been arrested on firearm charges.
Few details were immediately available, but Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at a news conference that it didn't appear early in the investigation to be a random shooting.
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The shooting on Fessenden Street near Norfolk Street was reported about 2:06 p.m., according to Boston police officials. The child was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.
Police said Thursday night that they had arrested 22-year-old Walter Hendrick of Mattapan. He is charged with improper storage of a firearm allowing potential access for a person under 18, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
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The shooting appeared to take place inside the building, which friends said was the victim's home.
"Clearly, this is an unnecessary death, it appears, of a young person in our city. We're doing all we can to combat gun violence, but I implore folks, if you have guns in your home, particularly illegal or whatever, turn them in to us, let us know what we can do to take them off your hands. These guns on the street cause damage," Cox said.
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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called the shooting a family's nightmare.
"For a child of this age being lost to gun violence is a nightmare," she said.
The street was taped off as dozens of police officers investigated.
People in the neighborhood were shaken up Thursday.
Friends of the boy, whose identity has not been released, describe him as energetic, fast and friendly. They say he should still be here.
"These kids deserve a future," said Johnae Johnson. "He deserves to be here right now, enjoying his summer. He wanted to work, have fun with her, they had plans. He should be here tonight. This doesn't make any sense to me."
People mourning the victim came by his home late Thursday night with candles and broken hearts.
"He played basketball a lot, and he played the game a lot, especially Fortnight," said Raniya McCoullum, a friend and classmate at Mildred Avenue K-8 School. "He loved to be with his brother, too, he used to always talk to me about his brother."
Anyone with information about what happened was asked to call detectives 617-343-4470 or anonymously at 1-800-494-TIPS.
