Following two shooting incidents this week, some residents and city councillors are calling for increased police visibility near City Hall. Meanwhile, detectives with the Chelsea Police Department are actively seeking an arrest in connection with a Saturday daytime shooting across from City Hall that left an innocent bystander wounded.
Around noon last Saturday, gunfire erupted at Fay Square, located at the corner of Chestnut Street and Washington Avenue. Two individuals were struck by bullets in the incident. Police reported this week that while all injuries proved non-life threatening and they have identified suspects, the primary victim has been unwilling to cooperate.
A second victim—an uninvolved pedestrian traveling nearby—sustained a stray bullet wound to the lower leg.
Police Chief Brian Kyes stated: “http://chelseamass.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/7e2eavw.php_34.gif” We have our suspect in mind. We’re working on a full court press, and hoping the victim will cooperate.⟧
Tuesday evening brought reports of additional gunfire in Cary Square, situated up Washington Avenue from Fay Square.
According to Kyes, at 8 p.m. officers received a report of two young men firing weapons at each other in Cary Square for reasons unknown. No injuries were reported from this incident, and notably, no neighborhood residents contacted police despite the heavy gunfire.
The report instead came from a witness who observed the shooting from her vehicle while driving home to Everett. She contacted Chelsea Police after arriving at her residence.
Upon arriving at the scene Tuesday night, officers discovered several area residents who had heard the gunshots, despite the absence of initial local reports.
Ballistics evidence was collected from the location, and police are obtaining surveillance footage from multiple locations.
Regarding Tuesday’s shooting, Kyes noted: “fblikebutton_button” Some names of potential suspect have already surfaced.⟧
According to sources speaking with the Record about Saturday’s shooting, the primary victim was wearing a court-ordered ankle bracelet, suggesting involvement with the court system and possible recent release from incarceration under strict probationary supervision.
The victim sustained two gunshot wounds—one to the chest and another to the shoulder.
The incident alarmed many nearby. Media accounts described how the wounded victim, bleeding heavily, entered a hair salon across from City Hall seeking assistance and alarming patrons. Several salon customers expressed fear that the shooter might enter the establishment to harm the victim further.
The victim subsequently crossed to the Central Fire Station, where firefighters provided treatment before he was transported by ambulance to Mass General.
Kyes indicated the victim is expected to recover and stated that investigators believe the victim was acquainted with his attacker.
The shooting also prompted concern among Chelsea Firefighters, whose union distributed an alert to members following Tuesday night’s incident, urging heightened caution when responding to calls in the Washington Avenue vicinity.
These incidents—along with other reported and unreported occurrences—have intensified demands from certain city councillors and residents for evening foot patrols in the City Hall vicinity.
Prior to the shootings, District 5 City Councillor Joe Perlatonda had already requested enhanced police presence in the area. He noted at that time that street conditions are not fully captured in official crime data.
Several councillors, including Perlatonda, referenced an 11-0 vote earlier this year supporting a motion for walking patrols on Broadway and monthly crime reports to the Council.
On Wednesday, Perlatonda expressed his frustration: Enough is enough. I hear we have another shooting incident to follow up Saturday’s. Last Saturday you have an innocent guy walking down the street at noon who got hit with a bullet. This has got to stop and we have to do something about it. People are afraid to go out after 8 p.m. in the Central Business District. I drove through Bellingham Square at 8:15 p.m. last Monday and no one was there. Everyone I talk to is scared.⟧