The savage shooting deaths earlier this week of four people in Mattapan – including a two-year old – have sent shock waves throughout the city.
Another victim of these executions in Mattapan in the hospital is expected to die and so that will make five dead in one horrendous act in a neighborhood of Boston that is not too far away.
You will say to yourselves that Charlestown is not Mattapan – and you will be right.
However, the potential for these types of executions is alive in every neighborhood of Boston, bar none.
The potential is there because of the presence of illegal firearms.
The potential is often realized because of the use by angry people of these illegal firearms.
No one knows exactly how to stop the recent, insane, proliferation of violence in Boston’s neighborhoods.
So far this year, 53 people have been murdered in Boston’s neighborhoods.
Mayor Menino is beside himself.
The police commissioner is overwhelmed.
Residents of the city are baffled by the violence, which regrettably is taking place in Boston’s poorest neighborhoods.
What to do?
We aren’t sure except to say that something must be done that is extraordinary in order to reverse the trend, which is building this year instead of receding.
We believe the mayor will shortly announce a new effort to remove illegal weapons from the homicidal thugs carrying them and using them.
Also, we believe the police will shortly be announcing a 24/7 zero tolerance attitude toward troublemakers in all of Boston’s neighborhoods, and especially in those places where the crime is rampant and so, so destructive.
Crime is not what this city’s neighborhoods are all about.
However the recent event in Mattapan added to so many others has raised the red flag for officials and for residents.
These types of killings cannot be allowed to go on.
How to make them stop will take an extraordinary effort that will require a unified community to show its strength in the face of rising violence.
Bottom line – these type crimes continuing will ruin the city and its reputation.
Even though Charlestown isn’t Mattapan, residents should be concerned.
What happened in Mattapan could happen here.
That’s the problem.