City, residents reeling after Mattapan slayings

No arrests were made yesterday, and police declined to provide details about the status of the investigation, other than to say the slayings appeared not to be random, the victims likely knew their assailants and that a “significant amount’’ of evidence was recovered at the scene.

Police did not identify the victims, but several friends, relatives and a local pastor said the victims included 21-year-old Simba Martin, 32-year-old Marcus Hurd, Flonory and her son, Smith. Several law enforcement officials confirmed that Hurd was the victim who was still alive at Beth Isreal. Martin, according to 19-year-old Kiya Benders, who said she was a close friend, was studying criminal justice at a local community college and had recently begun dating Flonory.

Authorities vowed to bring “every conceivable resource’’ to the search for the shooters and that three times the usual number of homicide detectives were on the case.

“We are doing everything humanly possible to catch the perpetrators of this inhumane act, and will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice,’’ said Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis.

Authorities appealed to the public for any information about the slayings, and street workers handed out fliers in the neighborhood urging people to come forward if they had any knowledge of the crime. They said they were particularly interested in information on a silver or gray Ford Explorer that was spotted leaving the scene.

“In light of these horrible facts, silence is not a moral option,’’ Conley said.

Investigators declined to discuss potential motives publicly, but a pair of law enforcement officials said they believed the slayings were drug-related. One of the victims told police before he fell unconscious he had been trying to buy drugs just before the shootings, and drug dealers would be more likely to control the men by making them take off their clothes.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Neighbor Ralph Myrthil said he came out of his house after hearing the shots and saw two people lying in the street naked, as if they had been pulled out of their beds before they were shot.

Samuel T. Moran, a 10-year resident of the area near Woolson Street, said he heard about six gunshots, then looked out his window to see a shadowy figure running down the street, followed by a silver or light grey vehicle.

“It puts fear in people’s hearts,’’ he said. “Things happen but they shouldn’t happen like that.’’

In Mattapan, residents were unnerved by the slayings, and deeply pained by the murder of an innocent child. Even in a neighborhood hardened by drug violence, the enormity of the crime, and the brazenness of gunning down a group of people on a residential street, shook many to their core.

“Nothing like this has happened before,’’ said Yvonne Chung , a 47-year-old mother of three who has lived on the street since 1977. “Right now all I can say is thank God my family is safe.’’

Chung was going to bed when she heard several gunshots. After a short lull, she heard two more.

Many residents called for a stronger police presence in the neighborhood, and raged against those responsible for so much anguish. Some said they had thought about moving, and that this was the final straw.

“I can’t take it no more,’’ Myrthil said. “This is no good for my kids.’’

In the precinct where the slaying occurred, there have been 14 murders already this year, up from 6 through last Sept. 26. In the past three months, there have also been 32 assaults within a half-mile of 40 Woolson St., according to Boston police data.

“It’s ugly. It’s been ugly like this all summer long. Something has to happen,’’ said Monique Golay, 26, who lives on nearby Sutton Street.

“Whoever did this, let Boston be the first to execute that man. Just for the kid alone.’’

Homicides in Boston have climbed by almost one-third so far this year, incensing police and religious leaders who have fought against drugs and gangs. But more than nearly any crime in recent memory, these slayings laid bare the ravages of inner-city gun violence.

“For someone to feel like they can shoot a 2-year-old child and the child’s mother is just reprehensible to me,’’ said the Rev. Jeffrey L. Brown, executive director of the Boston TenPoint Coalition, a group of clergy working to reduce violence. “Absolutely reprehensible.’’

At a community meeting held at Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan last night, a woman told a panel that included Davis, Conley, Menino and Governor Deval Patrick that she was the grandmother of the slain toddler.

“My grandson,’’ she said in a whisper. She began to weep, and was quickly led out of the church by family members.

Travis Andersen, Maria Cramer, John Guilfoil, Meghan Irons, Brian McGrory, Andrew Ryan, and Milton J. Valencia of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.