Two teens charged with shooting of movie set security
Two security guards working for a movie about a vigilante that is filming in Boston were themselves shot by alleged gang members, law enforcement officials said.
Dionte Martinez, 18, was ordered held on $10,000 bail and Thomas Perkins, 18, was held on $8,000 bail. Both men pleaded not guilty yesterday in Roxbury District Court to two counts of assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Teniola Adeyemi said each teen has a three-page juvenile criminal record that includes gun charges. According to police reports, both men are known associates of Lenox Street, a South End gang.
The shooting happened near the set of the Denzel Washington movie “The Equalizer 2,” which is being filmed in and around Boston.
Filming had not begun at the time of the shooting and no cast or crew were on-site, police said. The guards were hired by the company making the movie, police said.
When police arrived at the shooting on Sept. 30, one of the guards told police she was approached near where Cabot Street becomes Whittier Street by two men, one wearing a red sweatshirt and the other wearing a green sweatshirt, police said.
The 40-year-old female guard was shot in both legs, while a 33-year-old man near her suffered a gunshot wound to the right knee, police said.
Both were hospitalized and later released.
During a search of the area around the shooting scene, police found a green sweatshirt with “Silver Silicone 80” written on it, a red jacket and two 9 mm handguns in a backyard.
That night, police assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force saw Martinez and Perkins walking near where the shooting occurred, but both were wearing T-shirts and allowed to walk away, police said.
Police later obtained video showing Martinez wearing a green sweatshirt with “Silver Silicone 80” written on it that was taken shortly before the shooting.
However Martinez’ lawyer Dmitry Lev was unconvinced by the evidence.
“Mr. Martinez is a young man. He’s very upset to be facing these charges,” Lev said outside of court. “This is not a case that will be tried on the basis of a sweatshirt.”