Man killed, another wounded in Dorchester daytime shooting

BOSTON - One man was killed and another was injured in an afternoon shooting inside a barbershop on Labor Day in Dorchester.

Officers responded just before 1 p.m. to the area of Erie Street and Washington Street for a report of two people shot, Boston police Deputy Supt. Paul McLaughlin said. The shooting took place inside Exclusive Barbershop and Salon.

Washington Street shootings

Both were taken to the hospital, where one of the men died. The other man's injuries were not fatal, according to police.

This is the second deadly shooting on Washington Street in the last week.

It appears the victims were customers at a barbershop, McLaughlin said. He said at this point in the investigation, police do not believe the shooting was a random event.

One of the victim's grandfathers, Reiner Thompson, was told the news by his wife.

"He got shot in the head; his grandmother said he got shot in the head," Thompson said.

Victim's grandfather sends message to youth in community

Thompson said he spoke to his grandson just last week about getting him into a construction work program, and said he has a message to young people in the community.

"I'm mad," he said. "You've got to be a leader, not a follower to all the young people. Don't follow all the gangs, bad company. Get you a job, make your mothers and fathers proud."

No arrests have been announced. Police are looking for video evidence and are asking anyone with information to contact them.

"We are canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses," McLaughlin said.

As of Aug. 25, Boston had reported 10 deadly shootings in 2024, which is half the number the city had seen by this time last year.