Families of Winthrop shooting victims remember loved ones lost

WINTHROP, Mass. — “I truly think Dave had the opportunity to leave the scene, they saw the shooter, they saw the gun and he was strolling down the scene with the gun,” said Aria Ray Green.

The brother of retired Massachusetts State Trooper David Green said his brother rushed in to help, likely waiting to confront the shooter.

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“David kind of hid in the alley and he could have left. I think David probably thought he could jump the guy,” Green said.

Witnesses recover from the shooter that unleashed chaos on the Winthrop community on Saturday. Air Force veteran Ramona Cooper was also shot and killed after the suspect crashed a stolen truck into a building.

“Wow, I just feel sick,” said Elaine Marks, the owner of the building.

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A building reduced to rubble. And while bricks can be rebuilt, two families are now facing loss beyond repair.

“He just would connect with people because he was good. He always gave of his heart,” Green said.

The son of Ramona Cooper, Gary, was in contact with Boston 25′s Kelly Sullivan. He said:

“My mother was a good person, she would help anyone who needed it, she was caring and selfless,” Gary Cooper said. “She was quiet and kept to herself. She was a mother, a grandmother to three and a sister. We are heartbroken, and she will be missed. Just a senseless thing to have happened. We were robbed of precious time with my mom.”

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District Attorney Rachael Rollins gave reporters an update on Monday regarding the investigation.

“We understand you’re afraid. There’s not anything else indicating that this individual had somebody working with him, but we are continuing every minute to investigate this, to interview people, and to find out why and how this happened in Suffolk County,” she said.

Rollins said that local, state and federal officials are looking at the details of Allen’s life to try and pinpoint where his radical ideologies came from.

“When he became radicalized or when he started believing these things, we are not certain yet, but when we learn more we promise we will tell you more,” she added.

Meanwhile, city officials said they will be offering counseling services to those in the community who may need them.

“We’re going to be canvassing the neighborhood in which this happened and doing door knocks on each and every residence, offering support, checking in with everybody, seeing if there’s any urgent needs,” said Winthrop Director of Public Health Meredith Hurley.

Local officials released the following schedule for community outreach:

Tuesday, June 29

The Winthrop Public Health Department’s Crisis Intervention Team, which includes a licensed clinical social worker and a Winthrop Police outreach officer, will be canvassing the neighborhood where Saturday’s incident occurred to check-in and talk with residents. The team will also be providing flyers and cards to community members that will include information about the available community and online resources.

Additionally, on Tuesday, the school department will be conducting outreach. The schools will reach out to any impacted families and staff to offer support and make them aware of the resources that are available to them. The school department will also attend the Neighborhood Drop-In meeting referenced below, and conduct smaller youth group sessions as needed.

Wednesday, June 30

The Public Health Department will hold a Neighborhood Drop-In meeting at the Winthrop Senior Center, 35 Harvard St., from 7-8:30 p.m. Behavioral health support resources will be available for residents.

Thursday, July 1

A candlelight vigil will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. on the Winthrop Town Hall lawn, 1 Metcalf Square, to honor and recognize the victims. The vigil is being hosted by the Winthrop Commission for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.

Representatives from a multitude of support services, including the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Winthrop Public Health Crisis Intervention Team, the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and the Boston Public Health Commission will be present to assist residents who may be experiencing emotional responses, as well as provide support and resources for dealing with trauma. School adjustment counselors and other school representatives will also be present at the vigil.

The town is also planning to hold a community-wide meeting next week to discuss dealing with trauma and various stressors that may trigger emotional responses and what to look for in friends and family who may need additional support following a tragedy. Details regarding this meeting will be released as they become available.

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