Condo community hit by a ‘random, horrible situation’
Macallen residents grieve
There were a lot of tears and hugs last night at a standingroom only, emotion-packed meeting for the tight-knit residents of a luxury South Boston condo complex where two beloved doctors were murdered Friday night.
About 200 residents from the Macallen Building, where engaged doctors Lina Bolanos and Richard Field were killed in their penthouse, as well as the nearby Court Square Press Building, attended the private meeting. It was organized by the buildings’ condo association.
There were trauma counselors, Boston cops and a representative from the complex’s security company, Highbridge Concierge. The meeting, held at the Mass Bay Credit Union, focused on coping with the horrific tragedy and improving security.
“People are dealing with it in different manners. It’s shocking for some. Some people were close to the residents that were the victims,” said Alex Lopez, who has two children and has lived in the Macallen Building since 2004. “Others are not so connected, it’s more concern of personal safety and we’re coming together as a strong community.”
Lopez said he knew the doctors “loosely.”
“I’m OK. I’ve got a family. We’ve spoken to our children. We’ve been very clear about what’s happened, honest and open with the children. We’ve maintained our regular routine,” Lopez said. “The children know that something happened, the police are there, the bad guy’s been caught and that hey, let’s go play soccer.”
Lopez said he vaguely remembers the man charged with the slayings, Bampumim Teixeira, who had worked for the building’s previous security company.
“There wasn’t anything about him that stood out, positive or negative,” Lopez said.
Lopez said police couldn’t talk about the “how and the why” of the murders because of the ongoing investigation.
“We’re OK with that for now,” said Lopez, adding that the board is doing “their best efforts to assure the community that we’re safe.”
“Tensions are a little high because it’s normal to be concerned about what has happened, how it happened,” Lopez added. “People were very respectful and appreciative of what the board and the management company has done.”
Lopez said he feels that security at the properties is secure.
“I’ve never felt insecure in the properties at all,” he said. “It’s just a random, horrible situation that has happened in our community.”
Lopez also said residents of the building stand behind the management company.
“It’s a horrible, random situation that we’ve all been thrust into and we’re doing the best that we can,” he said. “We’re trying to be respectful and mindful of the victims’ families and the ongoing investigation.”
Residents walked over to the building in groups last night and most were tight-lipped.
The security company asked residents to help them with suggestions on how to improve and update some security measures, such as keys, email blasts and access to areas in the building.
“It was very productive. They’re a very close-knit community,” said Boston police Lt. Det. Michael McCarthy. “They certainly don’t want to see what happened on Friday be anything but an opportunity for them to make their community stronger and their building more safe.”