Boston, MA
Mom of 13-year-old deadly shooting victim praises Boston’s new illegal gun trafficking ordinance
BOSTON — The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed nearly 11 months ago is praising a newly approved illegal gun trafficking ordinance in Boston.
The Boston City Council approved the measure Wednesday that will require police to dig deeper into the trafficking of illegal firearms in the city and provide a comprehensive annual report.
Remy Lawrence, whose son Tyler was shot five times in Mattapan in late January, believes it’s a crucial piece of the puzzle.
The middle school student was allegedly murdered by a 34-year-old convicted felon while walking near his grandparents’ house in broad daylight.
“In order to allow innocent children an opportunity to grow and have a life, we need to figure this out,” said Lawrence. “I worry for every child in the city of Boston.”
The tragedy that claimed the life of her son is one example of the recent violence that’s putting innocent children at risk in Boston.
A spray of gunfire in Dorchester in September that wounded five, including siblings 11-year-old Johan Howard and 15-year-old Juliana Howard, prompted police to publicly address an alarming uptick in the recovery of illegal firearms.
Boston Police recovered more than 900 guns in 2022.
The previous year, in 2021, of all the guns recovered at Boston crime scenes traced using a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives database, just 10% were purchased in the state.
The rest were brought into Massachusetts from 18 other states.
The ordinance will now require Boston Police to uncover and reveal details, like whether the gun was connected to a crime, where the gun originated, registration information, and whether or not it was made using a 3D printer.
“It will hopefully prevent another mother from standing here like I am, holding a poster of my son,” cried Lawrence. “With the holidays fast approaching, I find myself in a place of not even wanting to remember that it’s the holiday season.”
During a September hearing on the issue, BPD officials said they’re on track to recover 25% more guns tied to criminal activity this year and that most of them are stolen.
The newly approved ordinance will also require police to try to find out exactly how illegal guns are making it into the city, including information about gun trafficking on highways and over the water.
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Boston, MA
Boston Fleet hang on to beat Ottawa Charge with exciting 3-2 victory
LOWELL — The Boston Fleet returned from their nine-day break with a win against the Ottawa Charge at Tsongas Center. Both teams lost two of their last three entering Tuesday night’s matchup.
Both teams went into the final 20 minutes of play tied at 2-2, but Hannah Brandt scored the game-winning goal for Boston to give the home team its second straight victory and first win streak of the season.
The first 20 minutes saw a combined 16 shots between both teams but goalies Aerin Frankel and Emerance Maschmeyer stood on their heads for Boston and Ottawa, respectively, to keep the game scoreless.
The second period was a different story with four goals scored.
The game’s first goal came 2:18 into the second period when Jamie Lee Rattray buried her first goal of the season. Ottawa tied things up four minutes later with a goal from Shiann Darkangelo — who began last season with the Fleet before being traded to the Charge — but Boston reclaimed the lead two minutes later thanks to Shay Maloney’s first PWHL goal.
With 3:42 left in the second Aneta Tejralova — who spent a season with the PHF’s Boston Pride — shot one right past Frankel to make it 2-2 as Ottawa tied the game for a second time in the period.
The game remained tied for the first half of the third period until Brandt ripped one past Maschmeyer to give the Fleet their third and final lead of the game with help from a nice pass from Hilary Knight from behind the net.
The Charge went on a crucial power play with about seven minutes left when Sydney Bard was called for boarding in the third period. But the Fleet killed it off thanks to some big saves from Frankel.
Ottawa pulled Maschmeyer in the final two minutes for the extra skater, but Frankel once again stood on her head despite the Charge’s best effort. The Northeastern product stopped 24 of 26 shots in the win.
Boston now has 10 days off and returns to action Dec. 27 against the Toronto Sceptres at Coca-Cola Center.
Boston, MA
Boston Dental office manager accused of posing as dentist
A Milton, Massachusetts, man indicted in May on accusations he practiced dentistry without a license is facing additional charges, the Office of the Attorney General said Tuesday.
Fritz Gabriel, 69, was the manager of Boston-based dental practice Forest Hills Dental. Investigators allege that Gabriel posted as a licensed dentist and issued prescriptions, including ones for controlled drugs like Percocet and Hydrocodone, using the registration and credentials of another dentist without their knowledge. Under state law, only licensed dentists are allowed to issue prescriptions to their patients.
Gabriel is further accused of charging a patient’s credit card more than $6,000 in unauthorized purchases, including $5,000 to Forest Hills Dental. According to the AGO, Gabriel helped the patient open the credit card and then used the account without the patient’s knowledge or consent.
He was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on charges of unlawful use of a registration number and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card.
In court Tuesday, Gabriel pleaded not guilty to the new charges. He was released on personal recognizance.
Back in May 2024, Gabriel was indicted on allegations he fraudulently billed MassHealth for dental services that were never provided or provided unlawfully. Those charges also allege that he, despite not being licensed, performed an extraction on a MassHealth member that left her with an exposed root in her mouth. That case is ongoing.
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