Boston police arrested a 23-year-old Dorchester man Wednesday morning on a murder charge stemming from the May shooting death of Giovanni “Gio” Bala on Bowdoin Street.
Members of the department’s Fugitive Unit took Justin Ferrer into custody at about 11:55 a.m. on July 22 near 1931 Dorchester Ave., across from Ashmont station, according to police. Ferrer was wanted on a warrant issued by Dorchester District Court charging him with murder.
Police did not disclose what evidence led investigators to Ferrer or describe his alleged role in the shooting.
Ferrer is expected to be arraigned today in Dorchester court where more details may come to light.
Bala, 22, was shot shortly after 1 a.m. on May 22 in a municipal parking lot near 260 Bowdoin St. 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.
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).
