Evidence Suggests Accident; Victim Still in Critical

BOSTON, Jan. 23, 2013—A city street worker was held on $50,000 cash bail yesterday after his girlfriend suffered a gunshot wound to her head and police officers recovered from his home an unregistered firearm that had an extended magazine and an obliterated serial number, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

JEREMY HARRISON (D.O.B. 11/1/84) of Dorchester was arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, unlawful possession of a high-capacity feeding device, and improper storage of a firearm in the presence of a child.

Assistant District Attorney Dana Pierce recommended $100,000 cash bail and an order to stay away from the victim and civilian witnesses if Harrison posts that amount. Judge James Coffey imposed half that amount and did not grant the stay-away orders.

Prosecutors say the evidence developed by Boston Police detectives does not at this point suggest an intentional shooting. Based on interviews with witnesses and the defendant’s own post-Miranda statements, Harrison was getting ready to leave his Arbutus Street home yesterday at about 10:15 a.m. when the gun discharged, striking the victim and causing life-threatening injuries. People inside the house said they heard a “pop” sound followed by Harrison’s urgent plea to call 911.

In a post-Miranda statement, Harrison allegedly acknowledged that he possessed the .45 caliber firearm and that it had not been properly stored despite the presence of a 3-year-old child inside the home.

The victim was transported to Boston Medical Center for surgery. Pierce said that doctors were cautiously optimistic that the victim would recover, but that the injury was extremely serious and that her brain remains swollen.

Harrison is represented by attorney Jessica Dembro. He will return to court on Feb. 15.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.