BOSTON, Massachusetts — Boston Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Dorchester on April 3, 2025, at around 9:00 p.m., following a traffic stop near Blue Hill Avenue and Columbia Road. Officers from District B-3 (Mattapan) initially spotted a vehicle with an obstructed license plate, and a registration query revealed it was stolen, prompting them to call for backup to ensure a safe stop.
The vehicle accelerated onto Sunderland Street and Warren Street, reaching high speeds in an attempt to flee. Boston Police, prioritizing public safety, did not pursue but monitored the vehicle until it stopped abruptly near 10 Holborn Street. Two individuals exited, and the passenger, the 17-year-old, was seen with his hands in his sweatshirt pocket before attempting to run. Officers apprehended him after a brief struggle, recovering a .32 Smith & Wesson revolver—chambered in .38 caliber, loaded with five rounds, and with an obliterated serial number—that he tried to discard under a parked car. The juvenile faces charges in Boston Municipal Court, including unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, and a second offense of unlawful firearm possession.
Dorchester, a densely populated neighborhood in Boston with about 120,000 residents, has long struggled with gun violence. Boston Police data shows 42 non-fatal shootings in Dorchester in 2023, a slight decrease from 48 in 2022, but the presence of a stolen vehicle and a defaced firearm in this case points to deeper issues of illegal gun trafficking. The decision not to pursue the fleeing vehicle reflects a cautious approach, likely influenced by past incidents like the 2021 death of a 13-year-old in a police chase in Mattapan, which sparked community debates on X about pursuit policies. This arrest highlights both the challenges of policing high-crime areas and the need for broader strategies to address youth involvement in gun-related crimes.
