Family, friends mourn victim in Dot slaying
Devastated family and friends of a Jamaica Plain woman gunned down in Dorchester Sunday visited the crime scene yesterday where they wondered aloud what led to their diminutive loved one’s death.
“This is execution-style, the way my sister died,” said Shamanique Knighton, older kin of Brianna Hardy, 22, the victim of what police called a “targeted” fatal shooting on Juliette Street. “She got shot in the head — a girl. She’s not a threat. She’s 4’11. I just don’t understand.”
Knighton said her sister, a rapper who went by the name of “Breezy,” also worked for an internet-based company. Hardy’s music was “expressed from the heart,” her sister said.
She was in her car when she was fired upon, Knighton said. Shattered glass and bloodstains covered some of Juliette Street yesterday. A Nissan sedan was towed away from there Sunday night.
Officer Rachel McGuire, a spokeswoman for Boston police, confirmed Sunday’s victim “was in a car when she was shot. It appears that she was targeted,” she said. A second female victim was injured by broken glass, McGuire said.
Police had not announced an arrest in the case as of late yesterday.
Knighton and six others memorialized Hardy yesterday by placing candles near the crime scene and playing rap music. Some shed tears, including Sandy Vert, 43, of Dorchester. Vert had known Hardy since she was a child.
“All these killings really need to stop. These kids are too young,” Vert said.
Those close to Hardy described her as a talented and independent woman who worked tirelessly to pay for her car. They said despite her short stature, Hardy, who also went by “Little B,” loved to play basketball.
Hardy’s death marked one of the city’s rare female homicides. Of the 44 slayings in 2016, only three victims were females, police said. There have been four homicides this year as of last night, cops said.
A street resident said that before Sunday’s killing, the block was festive and full of Super Bowl parties. The neighbor said he heard two gunshots shortly before 6 p.m.
Knighton did not known why Hardy was on Juliette Street Sunday, but said she was with a female friend.
“Everybody was trying to get to the Super Bowl. Somebody must have seen something. I just want them to catch this guy.”
Police are asking anyone with information to call homicide detectives at 617-343-4470.