Stray bullet pierces window of Boston home, strikes boy in living room

BOSTON — Police in Boston have launched an investigation after a boy walking in his living room was struck by stray gunfire on Sunday night, authorities said.

Officers responding to a report of a shooting in the area of 580 Cummins Highway in Mattapan around 10 p.m. found a boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his left leg, according to the Boston Police Department.

The 12-year-old’s stepmother, Altagracia Lorenzo, told Boston 25 News that the bullet entered their home through a window. She said she’ll never forget her stepson’s screams.

“Don’t let me die. Don’t let me die. Alta, Alta!” she remembers him saying.

The child was taken to Boston Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He is expected to be OK. The bullet hit the 7th grader in the leg.

“That bullet came, and he started screaming, I thought he was joking. ‘My leg, my leg, my leg.’ And he fell down over there,” Altragracia showed Boston 25′s Bob Ward.

Another bullet narrowly missed Altagracia and her daughter while they were cleaning in the kitchen.

Investigators observed a ballistic hole in the living room window and additional bullet damage to a vehicle parked outside.

Boston Police believe the 12-year-old victim was not likely the intended target, but instead a victim of random violence.

“Bullets don’t have eyes. They go almost anywhere at any time. And guns are an issue in this country, and we have to work harder to do something about that,” Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said this shooting has left her frustrated.

“The violence cannot stand in the city of Boston. It is unacceptable that any young person would have any thought on their mind of needing to worry about this,” said Mayor Wu.

Back in Mattapan, Altagracia says this violence has shattered her family’s sense of safety in Boston, and she’s worried about her stepson.

“He said I don’t want to go back. From the hospital, he said, ‘I don’t want to go back. I am scared.’ How I got to deal with this? I need to get out of here.”

A subsequent search of the neighborhood for possible suspects or witnesses proved unsuccessful.

There were no additional details immediately available.

An investigation remains ongoing.

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