Thursday, 4:30 PM
Slain boy, 13, was not intended target of shooter, police say
(George Rizer/Globe Staff)
By Brian R. Ballou and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
The 13-year-old boy killed steps from his Dorchester home was not the shooter's intended target and investigators have been going door-to-door distributing brochures for an anonymous tip program to encourage witnesses to come forward, police said this afternoon.
"As a community, we all share the same objective and desire to hold the person or persons who perpetrated this cowardly act responsible," Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said in a statement. "As a father and a member of law enforcement, I am outraged."
The city's new acoustic gunshot detection system picked up the sound of gunfire prior to the first 911 call Thursday night. When officers arrived on Evans Street at 7:56 p.m., Steven Odom was face down, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head, police said. He was rushed to Boston Medical Center and pronounced dead.
"Our hearts go out to the Odom family as they grieve the loss of their young son," Mayor Thomas M. Menino said in a statement. "There is no place for violence in our city. Not on our streets, not in our homes and not in our schools. We need to remain united in our commitment to end the violence and solve this heinous crime. Together, we can take back the streets and start a new era of hope."
Police have not reported making any arrests.
Earlier today, a steady stream of mourners left stuffed animals, a Matchbox car, and candles outside Odom's Dorchester home. His family called on city officials to staunch the bloodshed in urban neighborhoods.
"Words are empty and inadequate to expressive our grief and sense of loss," said his cousin, Keith Odom. "This death further highlights the need for the city to find a remedy to the escalating problem of violence on our streets."
Steven Odom was returning from a basketball game at 8 p.m. when his mother heard gunshots outside their home. She ran outside and discovered that her son had been hit.
This morning, family friends remembered the eighth grader as good kid who enjoyed hanging out with neighbors. He was a drummer at his church and was not involved with gangs, the family said.
Detectives are anyone with information about the shooting to call the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. To remain anonymous, call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS (8477) or text ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
