Half-Million Bail in Walnut Park Shooting

BOSTON, April 21, 2016—A Roxbury man was held on $500,000 cash bail today at his arraignment on charges that he shot a second man in view of a police officer working a detail near the scene, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

DONDRE CRAWFORD (D.O.B. 12/15/95) was arraigned in Roxbury Municipal Court today on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm as a second offense, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, unlawfully discharging a weapon within 500 feet of a dwelling, and resisting arrest.

In addition to setting bail at the amount requested by prosecutors, Judge Kenneth Fiandaca ordered Crawford held without bail pending a hearing to determine whether he had violated the terms of his probation on a 2014 gun conviction for which he had also served a year and a half behind bars.

Assistant District Attorney David Fredette, chief of the DA’s Gang Unit, told the court that Crawford and another man believed to be in his late teens walked past the officer on Walnut Park at about 11:20 yesterday morning. The two were arguing, Fredette said, and a moment later Crawford allegedly produced a firearm from the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt and began firing at the second man.

The victim began to run and the officer – who witnessed the sequence of events – lost sight of him. The victim fled the scene and admitted himself to Boston Medical Center, where he was treated for nonfatal injuries to his legs.

The officer confronted Crawford, who was now standing on the traffic island – and ordered him to stop. Instead, Crawford allegedly ran toward the officer and threw the firearm – a Beretta 950 semiautomatic handgun – at him before sprinting toward Washington Street.

The officer gave chase, calling for assistance on his radio and maintaining observation of Crawford until he lost sight of the suspect near Dixwell Street. By this time, additional Boston Police units assisted by the State Police Air Wing responded to the scene and Crawford was apprehended in the rear of a Dixwell Street residence. The officer who witnessed the shooting was able to identify Crawford.

Investigators later recovered a sweatshirt consistent with the one Crawford had been wearing at the time of the shooting. It was located on the lower roof of the rear of a Weld Avenue residence facing the rear of Dixwell Street. Investigators also recovered five shell casings at the scene of the gunfire.

Crawford was represented today by attorney Sandra Odiaga. He will return to court on May 20.

 

 

 

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty