Mass State Police union ‘disgusted with the violence’ at Revere Beach
3 people shot, several fights broke out over the weekend
Following the chaos at Revere Beach Sunday evening when multiple shootings and several fights were reported, the Massachusetts State Police union said it's "disgusted with the violence and unlawful behavior."
Police responded to two shootings at the popular beach on Memorial Day Weekend, and three people were reportedly shot in the incidents.
In one of the shootings, a 51-year-old woman suffered gunshot wounds to her legs and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. She was not the intended victim in the shooting, according to police.
"Visiting the beach with family, friends, and loved ones is a time-honored New England tradition," the State Police Association of Massachusetts wrote on Monday following the shootings. "The Association is disgusted with the violence and unlawful behavior displayed yesterday at Revere Beach.
"Every family within the Commonwealth deserves to be able to enjoy themselves at our parks and recreational areas without fear of violence or unlawful acts," the union added.
The first shooting happened at about 7:11 p.m., in the area of 123 Centennial Ave., which is two blocks from Revere Beach. The victim in that shooting was a 17-year-old female, who suffered a gunshot wound to her lower body. Her injury was believed to be non-lifethreatening, and she was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Police determined that the shooting occurred during a large fight, and shots were fired into a group of people. It's possible that the 17-year-old female was not the intended victim.
Then the second shooting happened at about 8:05 p.m. on Revere Beach Boulevard, in the vicinity of the bathhouse across from 63 Boulevard. Two victims were injured in that shooting, including the 51-yearold woman.
A 17-year-old male was grazed by a gunshot in that incident. He declined to be transported to a hospital. The investigation was ongoing to determine if he was the intended victim.
Several juveniles were detained after that shooting. A juvenile male was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm, but the investigation was ongoing to determine if he was involved in that shooting.
There's no evidence that suggests the two shootings were related. Police on Monday continued to investigate the shootings.
"The Association would like to commend our members from the Division of Field Services as well as the multiple specialized Sections and Units for their professionalism, restraint, and skilled response," the State Police union said.
"A heavy, reactionary, police intervention is not the sole answer," the union added. "Our community and faith leaders, elected officials, families, and other stakeholders need to take a stand, say something and end this unacceptable behavior before it escalates further like we saw last summer."
Police were urging anyone with information about either shooting, or who witnessed either shooting, to contact the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County at 617-727-8817.