Gun violence is becoming a heightened issue in Boston following another non-fatal shooting Tuesday night in Dorchester and one week after 16 year-old Jonathan Dos Santos was gunned down last week while riding his bicycle.
In the most recent shooting, the three victims suffered non-life threatening injures, but it occurred only hours after 200 people gathered for a peace rally in honor of Dos Santos and to ask residents to stop the violence in the streets.
The accused suspects in the Dos Santos case are a 16-year old and a 14-year old. Both are facing murder charges and will be tried as adults.
All of this comes amid a newly published report that shows non-fatal shootings are on the rise in the city. WGBH Morning Edition host Bob Seay spoke with the Executive Director of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, Emmett Folgart, who says the report that appeared in the Boston Globe, “shows a rise in shootings is concerning because it's often a predictor of more future violence. “
Folgert says that any of these shootings have been attributed to the teen's access to guns and that gun violence is also concentrated in specific Boston areas.
“ A 14 year old doesn’t get a gun, a 14-year old is given a gun by an older gang member. About 85% of the violence occurs in about 5% of the areas of Boston. But he says, “if you live in that 5% your 100% of a target, and you have a 100% chance you’ll witness violence,” according to Folgart.
Folgart said Boston's continued focus on recent gun violence is important for the public and beneficial to the communities impacted.
“I’m proud that we’re in a city where this is front page news,” Folgart says, “There are many cities where this would just be background noise.” He also says employment and status change is an effective tool to combat violence and shootings.
On Tuesday, Mayor Marty Walsh launched a program to help younger teens at risk for systemic violence. The program is meant to open opportunities for children ages 11-to-14, or those that are too old to attend camp, but too young to get a job.
To listen to the entire interview with Folgart and WGBH's Bob Seay click on the audio file above.
