Two Charged with Pointing, Firing Guns at Police Responding to Gunfire

BOSTON, July 14, 2015— A Georgia man and a Dorchester teen were arraigned today on charges they exchanged gunfire with Boston Police responding to shots fired in Mattapan last night, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JUSTIN MARTIN (D.O.B. 5/17/94) of Conyers, Georgia, and a 17-year-old Dorchester male were arraigned today in Dorchester Municipal Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition in connection with the alleged gunfight with police last night in the area of Bowdoin Avenue and Nottingham Street.  Martin was additionally arraigned on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly pointing a firearm at two Boston Police officers.

Assistant District Attorney William Kettlewell requested bail for Martin in the amount of $50,000 and orders that he wear a GPS monitor and remain on home confinement in the event that he is released on bail.  Judge Serge Georges set $35,000 bail and ordered Martin to wear a GPS monitor, stay away from his juvenile co-defendant, and abide by a curfew if released.

Assistant District Attorney Katherine Loftus requested that the juvenile’s bail be set at $150,000 and that he be ordered to stay away from the area of his arrest, stay away from Martin, wear a GPS monitor, and abide by a curfew during his arraignment in the court’s juvenile session.  Judge Peter Coyne imposed the requested bail and ordered the defendant to stay away from his codefendant and the area of Bowdoin Avenue and Nottingham Street.

Prosecutors told the court that members of the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force were patrolling in the area of Bowdoin and Nottingham Street at approximately 10:15 p.m. yesterday when they heard the sound of multiple gunshots.  As officers approached a man on the street in the immediate area, the man – later identified as Martin – fled from the cruiser with a firearm visible in his hand, prosecutors said.

As Martin ran, he fell to the ground in the area of 56 Bowdoin Ave., and officers exited their cruiser to approach him on foot.  Martin allegedly pointed the firearm at the officers, prompting them to take cover.  Martin then fled again, with officers pursuing him on foot.

A second individual fired upon police as they pursued Martin in the area of 75 Bowdoin St. Martin turned toward officers after running on Nottingham Street and an officer fired one shot.  Martin was then taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs.

The juvenile co-defendant and a second 17-year-old Dorchester male then ran around the corner from Nottingham Street onto Bowdoin Avenue.  Concerned for their safety after an unknown gunman opened fire a moment earlier, officers searched the two and found a .25 caliber Raven Arms on the juvenile defendant.  It was found to be loaded with five live rounds of ammunition.

Officers located a Smith & Wesson Model 225 handgun loaded with one round in the magazine and one in the chamber was located in the area where Martin allegedly pointed a gun at officers.  Shell casings were found in the area Martin was initially observed by officers after the sound of shots fired; additional shell casings were located in the area where a second gunman fired at officers as they pursued Martin.

Fortunately, Conley said, no injuries were reported in connection with the exchange of gunfire.

Martin was represented by attorney J. Lawrence Kelly. He will appear in the Suffolk County Gun Court on Aug. 13.  The juvenile co-defendant is represented by Scott Niemisto.  He returns to court July 29.

 

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