Man injured in shooting at park
Peace rally took place hours earlier
Hours after a peace rally was held at Dudley Street Park in Dorchester , a single gunshot shattered the quiet of a cool summer night, leaving one man seriously injured.
The unidentified victim sustained a gunshot wound in the abdomen at about 8:11 p.m. He was described by police as about 20 years old. He was taken to Boston Medical Center, police said.
"He does have serious injuries," Officer Eddy Chrispin , a Police Department spokesman, said last night. "He is expected to survive."
Police combed the park, at the corner of Dudley and Howard streets, for evidence. The shooting remains under investigation, Chrispin said.
With a baseball field, basketball courts, and a play area for children, the park is active during the summer, Chrispin said.
"It's frequented by a lot of kids," he said. "The city has a lot of programs there. There's no indication it's a troubled spot."
But the shooting upset residents, many of whom sang and prayed for peace during a rally at the park yesterday afternoon.
"We're tired of the guns," said Carmen Marcial , a 27-year resident of Cottage Brook Apartments on Dudley Street, who had attended the rally. "I love this neighborhood, but all you hear about are guns."
Marcial said one of her daughters was sitting outside enjoying the summer night when she heard what she thought was a firecracker. She said her daughter looked up to see a man, who appeared to be in pain, falling down.
Marcial said police should be more visible in the neighborhood. "I worry for my grandchildren," said Marcial, 50. "For me, I think we need more police patrols." 