7 guns recovered in 8 hours in the City of Boston

From BPD News:

As part of the BPD’s concerted effort to remove illegal firearms from the hands of violent offenders in the community, officers were able to recover seven loaded firearms during a span of eight hours across multiple neighborhoods throughout the City of Boston.

Incident #1: At about 4:28 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020, officers assigned to District C-11 (Dorchester), responded to a radio call for a person with a gun in the area of 503 Geneva Avenue in Dorchester. On arrival, officers observed a male in the rear of 503 Geneva Avenue standing just outside the second-floor porch. Upon seeing officers, the male became visibly startled and entered the second floor, running up the backstairs to the third floor. Officers pursued the male up the stairs and could hear the male shuffling around items on the third-floor landing. Officers apprehended the male and located a Tristar Canik Compat 9mm firearm loaded with ten rounds of live ammunition inside of a dustpan on the third-floor landing.

Officers arrested Shane Whitsey, 49-years-old, of Dorchester. Whitsey is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Trespassing.

Incident #2: At about 5:30 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020, officers assigned to the District A-7 (East Boston) Drug Control Unit, along with Massachusetts State Police, conducted a drug investigation in the area of Eagle Hill in East Boston. Officers observed a motor vehicle parked on Trenton street occupied by one male. Officers observed a second male walk to the rear of the motor vehicle where he was met by the operator. Officers observed both parties briefly interact before separating in what officers believed to be a drug transaction. Officers approached the vehicle and observed one of the occupants who appeared very nervous, looking around as if to exit the vehicle. The male was removed from the vehicle and officers recovered a Smith and Wesson .380 loaded with five rounds of live ammunition from within the male’s waistband.

Officers arrested Angelo Ramos, 24-years-old, of Winthrop. Ramos is expected to be arraigned in East Boston District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Subsequent Offense, Carrying a Loaded Firearm on a Public Way, Carrying a Loaded Firearm on a Public way, Subsequent Offense, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Subsequent Offense.

Incident #3: At about 7:09 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) responded to a radio call for a motor vehicle accident in the area of Norfolk Avenue and Proctor Street in Roxbury. While enroute, officers received information that the accident involved a motor vehicle and a scooter. Officers arrived at the scene and observed a male and female occupant of the scooter being treated by Boston EMS. The two individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Officers spoke to the operator of the motor vehicle, who stated he was driving on Norfolk Avenue and when he attempted to turn left onto Proctor Street, he struck the scooter, which he was unable to see due to the scooter not having any functioning lights and the occupants wearing dark clothing. Witnesses on scene observed the male operator of the scooter run into the Clifford Playground before returning to the scene prior to officers; arrival. Officers further located an ACP Backup firearm loaded with six rounds of live ammunition. The firearm was laying on the ground as officers retraced the operator’s path. Additional officers responded to the hospital where the suspect was being treated and subsequently recovered two clear plastic bags containing a substance believed to be crack cocaine from the suspect. The female suspect was also discovered to be in possession of thirty-two plastic bags containing a substance believed to be cocaine.

Due to the injuries both parties sustained during the motor vehicle collision, both were issued summonses to appear in Roxbury District Court. The male suspect, 21-years-old of Dorchester is charged with Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Drugs. The female suspect, 19-years-old, of Dorchester is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Drugs.

Incident #4: At about 8:07 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020, officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) made two onsite arrests and recovered a loaded firearm in the area of 1257 Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan. While on patrol in the area of Ashton Street and Livingstone Street in Dorchester, officers queried a motor vehicle and discovered the registration to be canceled. Officers followed the vehicle to the area of 1257 Blue Hill Avenue. Officers approached the vehicle and spoke to the operator who stated his license was suspended. Officers identified the operator and learned he had an active warrant and confirmed the status of his license. Officers removed the operator from the vehicle and placed him under arrest. The passenger was also removed from the vehicle and during a frisk of the passenger, officers subsequently recovered a Sig Sauer 1911 firearm loaded with five rounds of live ammunition.

Officers arrested the operator, Sebastian Gassant, 26-years-old, of Mattapan and the passenger, Jaire Bagby, 19-years-old, of Mattapan. Gassant was arrested on an active warrant out of Dorchester District Court for Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A Drugs, Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Drugs, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Class D Drugs. Additionally, Gassant is charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle on a Public Way, Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle on a Public Way and Attaching Plates. Bagby is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number.

Incident #5: At about 8:28 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) made an onsite firearm arrest in the area of 416 Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester. While on patrol, officers observed a motor vehicle fail to stop at a red light at the intersection of Washington Street and Blue Hill Avenue. Officers activated their lights and sirens and initiated a traffic stop.  Officers approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and spoke with the operator. Officers identified the operator and a query revealed his license to be expired. Officers further observed the male’s hands to be visibly shaking and he continuously refused to make eye contact. Officers removed the operator from the motor vehicle. During an inventory of the vehicle prior to towing, officers recovered an Interarms Firestar Plus 9mm firearm loaded with five rounds of live ammunition.

Officers arrested Rashonn Wilson, 30 of Randolph. Wilson is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Couer on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without License, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, Operating after Revocation/Suspension.

Incident #6: At about 10:14 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020, officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) made an onsite arrest and recovered a loaded firearm in the area of 72 American Legion Highway in Dorchester. While on patrol in the area of Blue Hill Avenue and American Legion Highway, officers observed a motor vehicle abruptly change lanes. Officers queried the vehicle and learned the registered owner of the motor vehicle was only issued a MA State ID/Learners Permit. Officers activated their emergency lights and sirens to conduct the traffic stop. Officers approached the driver and spoke to the operator, who was also the owner of the motor vehicle. Officers requested the operator exit the vehicle which he refused. The operator became extremely uncooperative and combative towards the officers. The operator proceeded to roll up his window and started the motor vehicle. Officers were able to deescalate the situation and remove the operator from the motor vehicle without further incident. The operator was taken into custody. During the inventory of the vehicle prior to towing, officers recovered a Glock 23 firearm loaded with thirteen rounds of live ammunition underneath the driver’s seat.

Officers arrested Raymond Francisco, 38, of Roxbury. Francisco is expected to be arraigned in West Roxbury District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Refusal to Submit Police Officer.

Incident #7: At about 12:24 AM on Saturday, October 24, 2020, officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) made an onsite arrest and recovered a loaded firearm in the area of 989 Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan. While on patrol, officers observed a motor vehicle operating at an accelerated rate of speed with a non-operational front headlight and rear taillight. Officers further observed the vehicle to continue swerving all over the road, speeding up and cutting in front of the officers’ marked cruiser. Officers activated their lights and sirens, conducting a traffic stop across from 986 Blue Hill Avenue. Officers approached the vehicle and immediately were met with an overwhelming smell of burnt marijuana. Officers spoke to the operator who stated he had been smoking and officers made the decision to remove him from the vehicle, believing he was under the influence of drugs. Officers observed a brown and black object sliding out of the operator’s pants pocket. Further, the female passenger attempted to push the object back into the operator’s pocket, but he removed the object and placed it on the female passenger’s lap. The passenger hesitated before she attempted to conceal the object with her hands. Officers identified the object as a firearm and immediately removed the female from the vehicle, securing the firearm within the vehicle in the process. The operator was also removed from the vehicle and taken into custody. The firearm was determined to be a Rohm RG 14 .22 caliber firearm loaded with five rounds of live ammunition.

Officers arrested the operator, Nazavien Davis, 19-years-old, of Roxbury. Davis is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition. The female passenger was identified and released from the scene.

Said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, “The continued dedication to keeping our neighborhood safe was on full display last night as the men and women of the Boston Police Department removed seven illegal firearms from the hands of violent offenders over the course of eight hours. The residents of the City of Boston have a right to feel safe in their homes and the BPD remains unrelenting in our efforts to protect our communities by holding these individuals accountable for their actions.”