Two shooting incidents over two days roiled life this week for people on Merlin Street – a typically quiet residential, one-block street between Codman Square and Four Corners.
There have been no reports of injuries, but the incidents have ramped up anxieties in the neighborhood.
On Monday night (Jan. 5), at around 10 p.m., a barrage of shots were fired near the corner of Merlin and Park streets. A ShotSpotter activation prompted at large police response and a report filed with BPD indicated officers found 11 casings— and a live round— on the street. Investigators believe a male on a scooter and a white Tesla SUV might have been involved, but a canvass of the area did not reveal any results, according to the report.
The next morning, two neighbors on Park Street reported to police that their homes were hit with bullets. Police found a bullet hole in one home and a spent round in a bathroom.
A second home reported two bullets went into the side of their home, but didn’t go into the living space. Both parties reported being awakened by the shooting, going as far as to “duck to the ground” when shots rang out.
Evidence was collected and the matter remains under investigation.
The previous night, on Sunday, Jan. 4 at around 10:44 p.m. officers were alerted to a ShotSpotter activation on Merlin and Athelwold Streets – just 200 yards from Monday’s shooting scene where four shots rang out and a vehicle was heard squealing its tires as it sped off.
Officers found four shell casings at the scene, but no further evidence.
However, police alerted all units that a moped had possibly fled from the scene towards Talbot Avenue. Officers on patrol at Talbot Avenue observed a red moped driving recklessly and popping wheelies.
Officers attempted to pull over the bike, but as the operator attempted to evade police, he popped his tires on the curb – dumping the bike and fleeing on foot, according to a BPD account. He was apprehended and the scooter showed signs of having been stolen. The 18-year-old was not immediately connected to the Merlin Street gunfire, but was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and failure to stop for police.
Both incidents are under investigation, according to police sources.
