Eight people were injured after gunfire erupted near a parade of Boston’s annual Caribbean festival on Saturday morning.
Officers responded to the area of Blue Hill Avenue and Talbot Avenue at around 7:44 a.m.
Authorities said two males were involved in an altercation that ended in a shooting. Authorities say the shooting incident was not related to the event.
According to Boston Police, Six adult males and two females were shot. Five males and one of the females were transported to area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries. The two additional victims with graze wounds from the shooting declined treatment.
“As a result of officers responding very quickly to the scene they were able to run towards not only the gunfire but actually to apply tourniquets and help all the victims of the gunshots and also arrest two suspects involved,” Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said during a press conference.
Police say one of the injured males involved in the shootout was shot in the leg during the exchange and limped into the tow lot after the shooting where he had a tourniquet applied to him by officers before being taken to the hospital. Police identified the man as 21-year-old Sebastian Fernandez. He was taken into custody at the hospital.
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Police also arrested a 17-year-old male hours after the incident. The teen was seen on camera running from the scene into the rear of the Boys and Girls Club towards Franklin Field. Officers identified him after a description was broadcasted and he was found to be carrying a gun, police said.
Police also recovered multiple firearms that were at the scene.
“The scope of this tragedy is mitigated only by the fact that no one was killed. But we see, once again, the consequences of too many illegal guns in the hands of too many people willing to use them, with zero regard for anyone in the path of their bullets. This happened against the backdrop of a city celebration, but also against the backdrop of a nation that cannot fashion a rational policy on reducing gun violence. This joyous festival of Caribbean heritage may have been affected by senseless violence, but we stand with the many good people here today who will not let this violence define their cultural celebration.” said DA Kevin Hayden in a statement.
Additional events related to the Caribbean festival would continue as planned, organizers said.
“We have no interest in having anything but peace among the universe and so it was very, very difficult for me this morning to know that something occurred,” said Shirley Shillingford, president of the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston.
Boston City Council President Ed Flynn is calling for the second parade to be canceled, according to the Boston Herald.
Mayor Michelle Wu said she was thankful to the city's first responders, especially the police who had a strong presence in the neighborhood.
“Today, the rest of the day, is going to be a really wonderful celebration,” she said of the carnival. “You see not only our officers and partners out in full force, but community members, organizers, people from every generation coming out to celebrate.”
The incident is under investigation and police are urging anyone who has information to contact authorities.
