Boy, 7, caught in crossfire; police arrest teen for gun possession

By Milton J. Valencia and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The 7-year-old boy hit by a stray bullet while playing kickball in Roxbury early Monday evening was caught in the crossfire between two teenagers in a car and another suspect on a bicycle, police said in a statement released this afternoon. One of the teens in the car was arraigned today for alleged possession of a firearm, but no one has been charged with shooting the boy, who police said was in stable condition this afternoon at Boston Medical Center after undergoing surgery.

The 18-year-old behind the wheel of the Honda was hit in the torso by a bullet fired by the suspect on the bicycle near Tremont and Parker streets, according to the release. Despite the bullet wound, the teen kept driving until they found the suspect on the bicycle near Sewall Street. Gunfire erupted again just before 7 p.m. between the occupants of the Honda and the suspect on the bicycle.

It was not immediately clear whether the shot that hit the 7-year-old boy was fired from the Honda or by the suspect on the bicycle, police said. No one has been charged with the shooting but police are actively investigating.

"The wanton disregard for the lives of children as a result of random gunfire is unconscionable," Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said in a statement. "I believe that people who participate in this activity should be committed by the court to a life sentence."

The 18-year-old driver of the Honda took himself to Brigham and Women's Hospital after the shootout. His name was not released, and he has not yet been charged with a crime.

Police arrested his passenger, Kenny Francios, 18, of Hyde Park, who was arraigned today in Roxbury Municipal Court. Bail was set at $2,500 after Francios pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm. Police have not yet recovered the gun.

The shooting of the 7-year-old boy sent children scrambling and shocked neighbors who struggled to believe that a youngster could fall victim to the violence plaguing their Roxbury neighborhood.

"Certain things go on around this area, but a little kid getting shot is way different; it's out of control," said Shawn Reeves, who added that he has lived all of his 27 years on Smith Street, where the boy collapsed after running from the shooting scene.

Neighbors said the boy was playing kickball with other children in the Mission Main housing complex off Tremont Street when shots rang out. Some, including Reeves's niece, ran home.

Andre Pinto from nearby Parker Street has a 5-year-old who attends Tobin School, as does the boy who got shot.

"For my kid's safety, I really do feel scared," he said. "Bullets really have no name."

He said that the neighborhood is a close-knit group of people and that the shootings are so random they have shocked the community.

"Kids just pick up a gun and want to shoot," he said. "They don't care what they hit."

The shootings occurred just before 7 p.m. as the light was fading. Police Superintendent-in-Chief Robert Dunford said police were still investigating whether the shootings occurred in several places.

"People heard gunshots, then they heard a bunch of other shots," he said.

Dunford said police believe the boy was hit by a ricocheting bullet. He could not say how many shots were fired, but neighbors said they heard at least seven.
Reeves said his niece was in the same playground area as the youth when the shots were fired.

"He was on the ground," Reeves said. "I saw his T-shirt, blood and everything. Some kid got shot. Everyone was saying, 'Some kid got shot.' "

Neighbors, who did not want their names used, said last night that they did not know the boy's name but that have seen him in the neighborhood and that he was friendly. They added that they saw the boy's bloodstained T-shirt on the ground.

The shootings were a chilling reminder that even children can fall victim to street violence that has roiled Boston's neighborhoods. Two weeks ago, an infant was shot in what police believe was a gang-related attack while in her father's arms.

Police continue to investigate the June 19 shooting of a Mattapan man who was holding his infant when someone climbed onto the balcony of his Fairlawn Avenue home and fired, hitting him in the hand before striking his daughter. Five-month-old Alianna Peguero has since been released from the hospital and returned home.

Police believe that the father, Alinson Peguero, 46, was targeted in what may have been gang retaliation. Peguero's 20-year-old son, Alan, was killed Sept. 4 while working at the family's convenience store in Dorchester.

Globe correspondent Kate Augusto contributed to this report.

Milton Valencia can be reached at mvalencia@globe.com.

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