Boston police today said they want to interview the occupants of a white SUV captured by city surveillance camera speeding away from Harlem Street in Dorchester moments after four women were shot Sunday night, two of them fatally.
"It's a very unique vehicle,'' Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said today at a press conference at Boston Police Headquarters attended by Mayor Menino.
Police said the SUV had a black top, halogen lights and fog lights. Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to contact Boston police homicide detectives.
Davis said a third victim in the Harlem Street shooting was in "grave condition." The fourth victim in the shooting suffered injuries that were not life threatening.
Menino said he knows some family members from at least two of the Harlem Street shooting victims, and he called on the community to assist police in solving what he called a "heinous'' crime.
"It can't just be the police,'' Menino said. "It's all of us working together.'''
The names and ages of the victims were not released by authorities, but relatives today identified one of the victims as Sharrice Perkins, a lifelong resident of Harlem Street who lived with her three brothers and other relatives.
"She was a beautiful girl, a beautiful girl,'' the slain woman's father, Steven Perkins, said between heaving sobs. "I love her. I miss her. I miss my daughter so much.''
Steven Perkins said his daughter was attending college. He said she had three brothers who lived with her on Harlem Street. He was too distraught to talk about his daughter further.
In 2007, Sharrice Perkins was part of a double dutch team – coached by Perkins's mother, Angela Francis – who were planning to attend the American Double Dutch League World Invitational Championships in South Carolina that year.
At the time, Perkins was 17.
Davis said police are investigating "many theories'' about the motive for the shooting, including the possibility that the women were shot because some of their relatives – not the women themselves -- are gang-involved. However, he said that has not been confirmed as the basis for the violence.
Davis said police do not believe the shooting was a random attack, and do not believe that the violence was drug related or connected to last fall's murders of two sisters inside their apartment at 50 Harlem St.
"I don't think the killings are in any way connected," Davis said.
Last November, Stephanie Emile, 21, and her 23-year-old sister, Judith, were shot allegedly by Jean Weevins Janvier, 30, who was previously involved in a romantic relationship with Stephanie Emile. Janvier is being sought by Boston police, the US marshal's office, and other law enforcement agencies and is believed to have fled the country.
On Harlem Street, long-time residents seemed in a state of shock this morning as they tried to understand the shooting.
Milton Roye, who has lived on the street near Franklin Park since 1958, said today that the violence in the area had become an unprecedented intrusion into a generally quiet neighborhood of single- and multi-family homes.
"The worst it's ever been,'' said Roye.
Boston police said today no arrests have been made in Sunday night's Harlem Street shooting.
Police also continued to investigate a quadruple shooting near 784 Canterbury St. in Roslindale in which one man was killed. The shooting took place around 3 a.m., police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Today, the driveway of 784 Canterbury St. remained blocked with police tape. A police cruiser sat parked outside, and both officers inside declined comment on the investigation.
A Canterbury Street neighbor, who asked that her name be withheld for her safety, said she heard what sounded like a party Saturday night at the home, with loud music and people shouting.
On the porch of the home, a bottle of what appeared to be alcohol rested next to two cans of pineapple juice.
She described the neighborhood as generally calm, as did nearby resident Salvatore De Lorenzo.
Holding a hose in a garden that included fig and lemon trees, the 72-year-old retired truck driver said people in the area get along well.
"I've been here 50 years," said De Lorenzo, who said he built his home in 1962. "Never anything like this."
Carol Celata, who lives nearby, agreed.
"Generally this neighborhood's pretty quiet," she said.
Police spokeswoman Cheryl Fiandaca said that one more person was shot Sunday night in the area of 156 Columbia Road in Dorchester. The person's injuries were not life-threatening. The two Dorchester shootings Sunday night were not connected, she said.
The shootings brought the number of homicides in the city to 33, compared with 34 at this time last year, police said.
Boston police asked that members of the public who have information about the shooting contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. People with information who wish to remain anonymous can call 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word 'TIP' to CRIME (27463).
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario