Weekend gunfire in Suffolk County leads to one death, several injuries, and arraignments in two courts
BOSTON, April 11, 2022—Four separate incidents involving guns across Suffolk County over the past weekend resulted in one person dead, several people injured and four people arraigned on assault and weapons charges, District Attorney Kevin Harden announced.
In Chelsea District Court, Daniel Cote, 32, of Revere was ordered held without bail on charges that he shot at police officers responding to a call Friday night of an armed man acting erratically on Broadway, one of Revere’s busiest streets. Assistant District Attorney William Kettlewell said Cote shot at arriving officers, who returned fire and shot Cote in the foot. A 9mm handgun, spent casings and a hypodermic needle were recovered at the scene, Kettlewell said. Cote is charged with armed assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. Judge Matthew Machera ordered Cote to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluation. His next court date is April 29.
In Boston Municipal Court Central Division, one man was held without bail and two others were held in lieu of $2,500 bail after officers responded to a 2 a.m. Sunday call reporting individuals with a gun in an SUV in Chinatown. Assistant District Attorney Daniel Nucci said the driver, Ahsan Arty, 22, of Quincy drove the SUV toward the officers and then into several vehicles as officers approached, causing the officers to open fire on the vehicle. Arty was ordered held with bail pending a dangerousness hearing later this month. He is charged with possessing an illegal weapon, operating recklessly and operating with a suspended license.
Alexander Delarosa, 23, of Jamaica Plain, and Devrae Burns, 22, or Dorchester are charged with illegal weapons and ammunition possession in the case. Judge John E. Garland set bail on each at $2,500, along with 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfews and GPS tracking. Delarosa and Burns will return to court May 9. A gun and ammunition were recovered at the scene.
Friday night a shooting at a gas station in Roslindale left Dreshaun Johnson, 23, dead and another person critically injured. In Charlestown Sunday afternoon, a person suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in a playground. There have been no arrests made in either case.
“People carrying guns and being so willing to use them present terrible threats to our communities. But what’s also extremely troubling here is where these incidents took place—including a crowded street in Revere, a busy gas station parking lot in Roslindale, and a playground in Charlestown. These are locations where people go about their daily lives,” said Hayden, who last week called the gun issue “a societal problem that demands a societal response.”
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications