Boston Police report a total of 24 murders in Boston in 2024 (23 people killed this year and one victim who died after being attacked in a previous year). It's down from 36 in 2023 and is the lowest number of homicides in the city since 1957.
Of course, that doesn't help the loved ones and friends of the people who died. And while the number of murders citywide went down, they went up - from 4 to 7 - in District C-11, which covers much of Dorchester.
In the listing below, click on a person's name for more details on how they died and any updates on their cases. 2024 murders mapped.
 David Abrain Man stabbed to death near Ashmont station. |
 Braulio Castillo Man shot to death on South Huntington Avenue. |
 Quami Clarke Man shot dead at Mildred Hailey Apartments. |
 Elijah Clunie Double shooting at Dorchester barber shop kills one; across street from where another man was murdered last week. |
 Daniel Coke Man stabbed to death on Amory Terrace in Roxbury. |
 JaShun Cooley Man shot to death on Washington Street in Dorchester. |
 Keith Cousin New Jersey man shot to death on Devon Street in Dorchester; two arrested. |
 Christian Cousins Two shot in Mattapan, one dies. |
 George Deeble Man shot to death on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan; first Boston murder in two months. |
 Edwin Diaz Geraldo Driver dead, passenger injured after car crashes into Dorchester house, but driver might have been shot first. |
 Mitchell Felix Duru Man shot dead on Cummins Highway in Mattapan. |
Jose Alberto Feliz Man shot to death in Fairmount development in Hyde Park. |
 Fernandes, Nilton Man shot to death in Dorchester early on New Year's Day. |
 Shantel Gillespie Woman found murdered in South End apartment. |
 Warren Julien Man shot to death in Ramsay Park. |
 Andy Baez Manan Man shot to death on Arborway near Forest Hills station. |
 Maceo Martin Man shot to death on Hammond Street in Roxbury; suspect arrested. |
Leudis Mejia Sanchez Two shot, one dead in apartment on Trent Street in Dorchester. |
 Pereshah Shear-Yashub Woman shot to death on Edson Street in Dorchester. |
 Celia Simmons Woman fatally stabbed in Ramsay Park. |
 Ja'Shaun Smith Man shot to death on Michigan Avenue in Dorchester. |
 Aanya Vinay Two bodies found in Theater District hotel. |
Name not released Person in car was shot at Erie and Merrill streets in Dorchester. |
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Comments
Rest peacefully
By Good Guy
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 9:45am
1 is to many but that is the lowest I’ve seen in my lifetime.
I came just to say this. I’m
By BostonLatin2000
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 9:33am
I came just to say this. I’m 41 born in Roxbury and 1 is always to many but to have 24 for a city of our size is amazing…
Taking Credit
By nona
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 12:31pm
There are so many factors that come into play in order for a murder to occur. Police play such a small role in this. As for what drove this historical low number, I'd be hesitant to give kudos to BPD or Wu. Yes, the BPD is a progressive force that tries to come up with results driven approaches to reducing violence, however, I bet if you asked they would tell you they didn't do anything differently this year than in others.
What does work, is targeting the known shooters in the community and removing them from the street and providing services to those on the fringe. BPD and the community partners have always done a good job with this. I will say this, between rising rents, and police pressure, we have seen a good amount of gang players move to other communities. Whether it be Brockton or Randolph, or we've also seen some in quieter communities like Norwood and Framingham. Time will tell if this will continue. Springfield has seen a major uptick in violent crime and firearm-related crimes. We are just one innocent child being caught in cross-fire before we are back to warrant sweeps and federal gang and drug investigations.
Aanya Vinay
By Ben
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 9:55am
Thanks for this. Has anything ever been released on the murder-suicide in the Theater District? Somewhat concerning that second half of the year homicides bounced back to prior rate.
We're doing something right, but what?
By SharpWave
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 11:55am
Honest question -- I've had friends from other cities ask me this when hearing about Boston's progress. Best I can come up with is that the BPD approach to gangs is somehow more effective than what's happening elsewhere, but that is 100% conjecture; would be interested to hear if anyone has any different ideas.
Many reasons likely
By BostonDog
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 12:38pm
Murder rates are down in every large US city so unlikely it's entirely or even mostly due to things unique to Boston.
My theory is that the good economy has made it easier for people to find better paying and more worthwhile jobs.
Surely that's part of it
By Gary C
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 1:02pm
When people have enough to eat, something to keep them occupied (work or school), and feel that the future looks promising, they are much less likely to join gangs or feel the need to break the law.
Could in part be the high Rental costs
By hydeparkish
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 2:26pm
Boston's rent is comparable to other major, expensive cities, and it's considered one of the most expensive places to live in the world:
Average rent
As of December 2022, the average rent in Boston was $3,405, which is similar to the average rent in other major cities like San Francisco, New York City, Miami, San Jose, and San Diego.
One-bedroom rentals
Boston is the second most expensive city for a one-bedroom rental, after New York City. The median price for a one-bedroom rental in Boston is $3,060 per month.
Median listing price
The median listing price for all rentals in Boston is approximately $3,568 per month.
Percentage of income spent on housing
The median Boston household spends around 47% of their income on housing, which is higher than cities like Seattle, where that figure is 28%.
Nearby cities
Newton, MA is the most expensive nearby city with an average rent of $4,400 per month.
Boston's rental prices are high due to a housing shortage and zoning laws that favor single-family homes. New rentals that do become available tend to be in the luxury market.
Not sure how expensive housing reduces murders
By Gary C
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 4:49pm
If anything, I would expect more violence in a place where it's tough to afford decent housing.
That makes more sense.
By Lee
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 6:54pm
The first thing that came to my mind when reading that comment is possibly a rent gauging landlord or a landlord who evicts for profit who has smidge of a conscience about it and so erects this defense mechanism to deal with it and dismiss it.
Crime preys on poverty
By BostonDog
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 7:08pm
People who are poor are more likely to be the victims of violence themselves. When housing prices rise, people with the fewest means relocate and and the violence follows them.
So it's not that high housing prices causes violence, it just pushes the violence elsewhere.
Exactly.
By Lee
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 8:30pm
Something however that the people who use false logic and pretexts to justify gentrification chose to ignore is that while some violent crimes and theft may be decreased as people with higher incomes and more financial security take over a neighborhood, at the same time, white collar crime and institutional violence goes up.
Preying on the poor and working class by legal means is very profitable.
Worcester Numbers Up
By Handmaid99
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 1:18pm
Which might be part of the explanation of the Worcester Murder rate going up. Not only that their cops are under federal DOJ investigation too.
Those renters paying higher rents will not accept crime
By hydeparkish
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 10:06pm
I have found that upper class folks that have money will speak out against crime at any level so murders which are primarily related to drugs or roberies gone bad or scores to settle between gangs are relocated to other neighborhoods that won't call the cops every time a unfamiliar person hangs out in front of their house.
Gang members are responsible for most murders in Boston, so if you start to have citizens paying high rent call the cops or just going out near their apartments to local restaraunts and shops the gangs that are committing low level offenses like making noise it's less likely the gangs think they run the streets and go to a different neighborhood, possibly outside the city where there behavior is tolarated.
I didn't spend a ton of time
By anon
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 12:05pm
I didn't spend a ton of time in the police report - but am interested in the clearance rate on these, and which ones are still open investigations.
In particular I am wondering about the Arborway / Forest Hills murder, where I haven't seen any news since they IDed the victim.
Just wondering about this case:
By CopleyScott17
Wed, 01/01/2025 - 6:33pm
"Edwin Diaz Geraldo
Driver dead, passenger injured after car crashes into Dorchester house, but driver might have been shot first.
Jun. 28, 8:34 pm
24 Fifield St., Dorchester"
If they don't know whether the driver was shot before crashing, how do they know this is a murder? Is the injured passenger a suspect, or refusing to cooperate?
They later became sure
By Jethro
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 1:36am
That article is just the early news. Later they arrested a teen for the shooting
https://www.universalhub.com/2024/16-year-old-char...
Thanks!
By CopleyScott17
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 4:11am
n/t
Boston Homicides
By BosGuy
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 8:38am
While it is good to read that Boston had so few murders in 2024, I cannot help but notice how every one of these individuals was a person of color. It reminds me why the saying "black lives matter" still resonates.
I applaud the city for doing much to reduce violent crime and hope this trend continues into 2025 and beyond. I also hope we can continue to make Boston a safe city where anyone regardless of their skin tone can live free of violence and build a home for themselves and their family. Not just those who can afford to live in Boston's most expensive neighborhoods.
It’s disturbing to see…
By Lee
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 1:56pm
… so many happy faces knowing they were all murdered.
Could anyone offer advice on the best way to get information from police or whoever on deaths in Boston? I’m specifically seeking info on the corpse that was found washed up on Thompson Island (Now Catherine Stone Island) on New Year’s Day.
FOIA
By nona
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 3:29pm
You can either submit a Freedom of Information Act Request or go to BPD HQ Records and request the report. You may have to have specific date or report number.
https://police.boston.gov/how-to-get-a-copy-of-a-p...
Thanks.
By Lee
Thu, 01/02/2025 - 3:38pm
Thanks. I know about that. I was hoping there is some easier way but probably not.
I hate not seeing a picture
By anon
Sat, 01/04/2025 - 2:03pm
They were someone.
Keith Cousin
https://gunmemorial.org/2024/12/09/keith-cousin
Jose Alberto Feliz
https://gunmemorial.org/2024/11/08/jose-alberto-feliz
Leudis Mejia Sanchez
https://gunmemorial.org/2024/08/12/leudis-mejia-sa...
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