Boston Common Shooting Leaves Teen In Critical Condition

BOSTON, MA — Crime scene tape and blue police lights drenched Boston Common after a teen was shot near the bandstand early Tuesday evening. The victim was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. Three were taken into custody following brief pursuits. Subscribe to Boston Patch for more Hub news and real-time alerts.

The victim is believed to be a 19-year-old from Hyde Park, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told reporters. He has been transported to Tufts Medical and was in critical condition. "People have to realize the value of a life," Evans said.

The shooting is not believed to be random, officials said. Those taken into custody were released, but remained persons of interest.

Emerson College hunkered down and the transit system ground to a halt after gunshots rang out. The Common was closed as police swarmed the area.

Twitter user mkbeet reported she was in a car that was struck by a stray bullet near Thinking Cup, which is where Twitter user mikeytw33ts said this photo of an alleged bullet hole was taken. "Heard about 5-6 shots," mkbeet told Patch via Twitter.

Emerson sent out an alert asking students to lock their doors and silence their phones, a shelter-in-place order that was lifted at 7:37 p.m.

The Red and Green Lines weren't moving in the aftermath of the shooting as scanner reports came in of at least one suspect fleeing on foot into Park Street station. Those lines have since been reopened, MassDOT confirmed.

Twitter user Rachel Kohn took the main photo at the top of this story of a suspect being arrested near Tremont and Berkley.

Police are asking for anyone with information on the shooting to call 800-494-TIPS.

Patch will update this breaking news story

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Main photo from Rachel Kohn via Twitter. Photo of Green Line from Guy Ben-Aharon via Twitter, and photo of alleged bullet hole via MikeyTw33ts via Twitter