New surveillance video obtained by NBC10 Boston shows one instance in a recent spate of gun violence in the city.
A gunman in a red hooded sweatshirt who's walking down a Roxbury street is seen pulling out a gun and firing at a group gathered at a nearby park. People on the sidewalk dive for cover.
The suspect runs away, firing over his shoulder as cars race away. Another man starts shooting back at the first gunman.
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No one was injured in the incident Wednesday, but it caused plenty of alarm — as have others in Boston so far this year.
On Monday, a man was shot and killed in broad daylight near a middle school in Dorchester. A day later, multiple intersections were closed down in Dorchester as police searched for a man who opened fire on a busy intersection in broad daylight.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Mayor Michelle Wu addressed the spate of violence at a news conference in Roxbury Thursday, detailing what they're doing to stop the violence.
"Our families deserve a city where every park and playground, every classroom and corner bodega is a safe place to be at any time, day or night," Wu said.
Officials noted that shootings this year are actually down, but more people are being killed in them — up to 14 from five over the same period in 2022.
"People need to understand this is a safe city. We can be safer with the public help, we can be safer by making sure we address the needs that people have here," Cox said.
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The city's plan to address gun violence in the city has many facets, including pouring $19 million into a summer jobs program and cracking down on activities that are often asscoiated with larger issues, like illegal ATVs and road bikes speeding through the city.
It's tied to a theory that gun violence grows out of deeper issues affecting the communities where they're likeliest to take place, so Boston will boost mentorship, intervention, outreach, apprenticeship and other activities this summer.
"The goal is to make 2023 summer the most fun and active, joyful and healthy summer," Wu said.
Asked about Bostonians who don't want to take part in the new services, Cox acknowledged that's likely, but he said the ciy is working to provide more options for people who feel like violence is the only option.
"We're not trying to pillage or impact whole communities and vilify or incarcerate whole communities. That's not our goal at all. Our goal is to have no crime, zero crime. Police can't do that, society has to do that," he said.
