This story was updated on July 23, 2026 at 2:55 p.m.— A Dorchester man who was arrested by the BPD’s Fugitive Unit on Wednesday for the May 22 shooting death of 22-year-old Giovanni Bala was ordered held without bail today at his arraignment in Dorchester division of Boston Municipal Court.
In court, prosecutors suggested that the accused— 23-year-old Justin Ferrer—did not intend to shoot Bala, his friend, when a gunfight erupted in a municipal parking lot on Bowdoin Street between two groups.
Ferrer entered a plea of not-guilty at the hearing.
Ferrer was taken into custody at about 11:55 a.m. on July 22 near 1931 Dorchester Ave., across from Ashmont station, according to police. He was wanted on a warrant issued by Dorchester District Court charging him with murder.
Assistant District Attorney Cailin Campbell said today that Ferrer came to the parking lot next to 260 Bowdoin Street armed with a gun.
“Around 1:05 a.m. a gunfight erupted between Ferrer and his friends and another group. In the confusion of the gunfight, Ferrer shot the victim, his friend, Giovanni Bala. Bala later died from his wounds,” a statement from DA Kevin Hayden’s office said.
Bala, 22, was shot shortly after 1 a.m. Police responding to reports of gunfire found him suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Surveillance footage from the area appeared to show gunfire directed toward a group of people who scrambled for cover in the parking lot near Hamilton Street, according to previous Reporter coverage. Bala had gone to the area that night to celebrate a friend’s graduation.
Bala, who grew up in Dorchester, had recently completed a training program and started working as a union carpenter. His sister, Leslie Bala, described him to the Reporter as an ambitious, hardworking young man who loved basketball and was known as a peacemaker among his relatives and friends.
“He was everyone’s favorite and everyone’s light,” she said in May. “He was someone that was so hard to be mad at.”
Bala attended the Mattahunt Elementary School and Boston Green Academy before transferring to Charlestown High School, where he played basketball. He was also active in the Catholic Church and attended St. Mark Church on Dorchester Avenue.
Ferrer is due back in court on August 19, the DA’s office said.
“When illegal guns are in the hands of people perfectly willing to use them—especially in a situation like this, where numerous people are firing at each other—terrible and tragic outcomes are inevitable. Here, the outcome is a defendant charged with the death of his own friend,” DA Kevin Hayden said.
Boston police said the homicide investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department’s Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-494-TIPS or texting “TIP” to CRIME (27463).
