DORCHESTER, MASS. (WHDH) - Boston Police are investigating after a man was shot and killed in Dorchester Wednesday night, in what is believed to be the fourth homicide in the city in less than a week.
Responding after receiving reports at 7:15 p.m., officers blocked off Washington Street soon after they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound inside the Celebrity Cuts Barbershop. The victim, later identified as 43-year-old Herman Maxwell Hylton, of Roxbury, died on the scene 20 minutes later, according to law officials. State business records show that Hylton was one of the barbershop’s managers.
The shooting was the fourth murder in Boston since Saturday and 48 hours after a meeting between faith leaders and city officials to figure out a game plan for how to slow the surge of violence.
Community members said that they are concerned about the increasing violence.
“Guns need to get off the streets and I don’t know how they’re going to do that,” said one woman who spoke to 7NEWS.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, along with other city officials, were on the scene as homicide detectives continued to gather evidence late Wednesday night.
“The fact that this took place inside a barbershop, a hub for the community that is supposed to be a safe space for everyone to come and feel and look their best, makes this all the more devastating,” said Wu.
“We know that we stand in the midst of a good and vibrant community,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. “This was an active area at the time, obviously, with the barbershop open and for people who know anything, we need your help and your support in this matter.”
Boston Police said they believe the shooting was not a random act of violence and are asking anyone who may have information on the incident to contact the police department.
“We need the public’s help with this, I mean this stuff needs to stop,” said Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. “And we’re going to make sure that we’re focusing in all of the places we need to be to make sure we curtail some of this stuff that’s going on out here.”
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