Men found dead in burning car were shot before crashing, Boston police say

BOSTON — Boston police say two men found dead in a burning car in Dorchester had been shot before crashing the vehicle.

Police were called to the area of Eastman and Elder streets Wednesday night to respond to reports of shots that had been fired in the area.

When officers arrived they found a car engulfed in flames, and two men who had been in the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.

It was later determined that the men had been shot prior to the car crashing and bursting into flames.

“It’s time to stop this thing. Let’s go be nice,” an uncle of one of the victims told Boston 25 News. “You don’t get nothing when you kill people. Because you kill somebody, somebody going to kill you. It’s going to be worse. Let’s go stop that.”

Romero Gomes dos santos, Amilton dos santos' father, said in addition to losing his son Thursday morning, he recently lost his wife.

"I love my son," he said. "I lost my wife, too. So now I'm by myself."

He said his son was a passenger in the car and both he and the driver were killed.

Amilton leaves behind a baby boy.

"Some people down the street come knock on my door and say, 'Amilton got shot," Romero Gomes dos santos said.

A man who lives on Elder Street didn't want to show his face or give his name, but said he heard the gunshots immediately before the crash.

"Pulled around to Eastman Street. Eastman and Cawfield. I heard all these gunshots. Like 10," the witness said.

At least 10 police officers were at the scene investigating the shooting and crash.

No other information was released.

The incident remains under investigation.

Cox Media Group