Boston Man Accused Of Fleeing And Discarding Stolen Handgun

BOSTON, MA — A Mattapan man wanted in connection with a July shooting was arrested Friday after Boston police say he fled from officers and discarded a backpack containing a stolen, loaded handgun.

Joseph Matthias, 25, was arrested at about 11:50 a.m. after officers executed an arrest warrant in the area of Woolson Street, according to the Boston Police Department. Matthias is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, and on the outstanding warrant.

Officers were in the area of Sutton Street when they saw Matthias leave a residence carrying several duffel bags and a backpack before heading toward Morton Street. Officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant stemming from a shooting that occurred July 9 at 141 Tremont St.

Police said Matthias immediately dropped the duffel bags and ran when officers attempted to make contact with him. During the pursuit, he allegedly threw the backpack over a nearby fence before officers caught and arrested him on Woolson Street.

Investigators later recovered the backpack and found a metallic-colored Beretta USA Corp. handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition inside. A records check determined the firearm had been reported stolen in Somerset, police said.

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