Police: Man held on bail after teenage girl shot, killed inside Downtown Crossing hotel

BOSTON — A Hyde Park man was ordered held on $100,000 bail Friday after his arrest in connection with a fatal shooting inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel that left a 17-year-old girl dead, officials said.

Messiah Leggett, 20, of Hyde Park, was ordered held by Judge James Stanton following his arraignment Friday in Boston Munipical Court on possession of a firearm charges, according to the district attorney’s office.

Boston police said the shooting happened at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Crossing at 11:26 p.m. The teenage girl was found with an apparent gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene by Boston EMS.

Assistant District Attorney William Kettlewell said in court that Leggett was seen on video leaving the hotel with two companions and crossing Boston Common. He was detained at the intersection of Spruce and Chestnut streets. Police recovered a firearm near where Leggett and two juveniles were stopped by police. In speaking to police, Leggett acknowledged his possession of the firearm inside the hotel room where the 17-year-old girl was found dead.

“My Office is working closely with Boston Police detectives to learn exactly what transpired in that hotel resulting in the loss of this juvenile’s life. We will not rest until we know how this teenaged girl was fatally wounded,’' said Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins in a statement. “This is an active death investigation and my heart goes out to the family and loved ones of this victim.”

Judge Stanton revoked for 60 days the bail of Leggett on a West Roxbury gun charge.

Leggett is due back in court on March 1 for a pre-trial hearing. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Officials have not yet released the girl’s name.

Her death was the second fatal shooting in Boston on Thursday night. A man was killed in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood at about 10 p.m., police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston police homicide detectives at 617-343-4470, or anonymously through the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 800-494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (2746).

Police investigating after woman fatally shot inside Downtown Crossing hotel

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