DA: Teen who exchanged gunfire with police shot himself

A preliminary investigation shows a Dorchester teenager pursued by police during a gang investigation Saturday night exchanged fire with officers then reloaded his gun, put it to his head and fired, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said this afternoon.

In a statement, Conley gave the following account of the death of Manuel DaVeiga, Jr., 19:

A group of three Boston Police officers and one State trooper assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force was patrolling in the area of Navillus Terrace and Winter Street on Saturday night to investigate recent gang-related incidents and address community concerns.

At about 9:40 p.m., the officers approached DaVeiga, who was armed with an unregistered .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun. DaVeiga drew that firearm after the officers approached him on Navillus Terrace. Multiple rounds of gunfire were exchanged between DaVeiga and the officers.

Preliminary evidence developed to this point indicates that after the exchange of gunfire, DaVeiga reloaded his weapon, put the gun to his head, and shot himself. Police recovered the .45 caliber firearm from DaVeiga where he fell. He had also sustained gunshot wounds to the hand, hip, and chest.

Conley said the investigation continues.