Gun battle erupts near Roxbury playground filled with kids; one arrest made

Update: Leary ordered held in jail for at least 90 days.

Boston Police report two guys with guns exchanged at least 14 rounds behind the Trotter School on Humboldt Avenue around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Fortunately for them they were terrible shots - and luckily for the children and parents at the Trotter playground, nobody was hit, or, at least, nobody showed up at area emergency rooms with fresh gunshot wounds, police report.

Police say officers on patrol heard the gunfire and arrived just in time to see somebody whom they already knew brandishing a firearm:

The individual fled on Hollander Street, and a foot chase ensued. Officers pursued the suspect from Hollander to Harrishoff Street, where they observed the suspect discard the firearm. In short time, officers were able to find the suspect hiding under a motor vehicle parked on Harrishoff Street. Officers apprehended the male and recovered a .380 caliber firearm in a yard adjacent to Harrishoff Street.

Semaj Leary of Dorchester, 20, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, discharging a firearm on school property, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm (second and subsequent) and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was also charged with being a level II armed career criminal, which automatically lengthens any sentence he gets if he's convicted. He also had prior warrants, police say.

After listening to a recording of the gunfire on the BPD ShotSpotter system, police determined two guns were fired; a search of the Trotter School playground found a second, 9mm, gun. Police add:

Although no victims were located at the time of the incident, this exchange of gunfire interrupted what was a beautiful spring day in Trotter Park where several children had been playing.

Innocent, etc.