Rev. Kevin Peterson, the leader of New Democracy Coalition based in Boston, Massachusetts, was among faith leaders and advocates who were at the scene following reports of another shooting death in Roxbury.
Peterson was outside the apartment complex where the shooting occurred just as police arrived to investigate the shooting. Reverend Peterson consoled the shocked neighbors and expressed indignity at another senseless death.
'A Triangle of Homicide, Death'
According to a report by CBS News Boston, Peterson extended his group's sympathy to the Weaver Way neighborhood where the recent shooting occurred.
"We, unfortunately, live within a triangle of homicide and death that extends from the South End and includes Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan where there is persistent homicide and murder unlike any other place in the city. We remain concerned police and the community are not working together in a very functional way," CBS News Boston quoted him saying.
Reverend Peterson did not stop at expressing his grief over the matter but proposed how to address the problem.
Peterson proposes "self-imposed curfews the church adopting specific neighborhoods… knocking on doors… providing information but also providing care." He adds that the Roxbury community should "collectively work to get guns off the street and out of our homes."
Details of the Incident
Boston Police Department Deputy Superintendent James Miller told reporters the victim was an adult male. He did not offer additional information.
The report said police rushed to the apartment complex following a 911 call about a shooting on Saturday afternoon. The victim reportedly died on the scene, CBS News Boston disclosed.
"It's obviously a tragedy anytime this happens. One is too many for any neighborhood," Miller explained.
The report noted that police have yet to name the victim or the suspect or suspects responsible for the incident. However, they ask those with information leading to the suspect/s' capture to come forward and contact them.
CBS News Boston said the Suffolk County DA's Office and the Boston PD are investigating the incident.
About New Democracy Coalition
Its website says New Democracy Coalition "seeks to move beyond partisan rancor and appeal to the better angels of us all."
"We are dedicated to the proposition that democracy respects no class over another, favors no race out of bias, respects gender equally and cares compassionately for the hurt and the disabled. We envision that democracy be fulfilled in the lives of all citizens, especially historically disenfranchised groups such as African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, young people and individuals suffering from disabilities," the website adds.
According to its Staff page, Rev. Kevin Peterson is the group's founder and executive director.
His website profile says Peterson attended Boston University, where he studied politics and philosophy. The website adds Peterson is the University of Massachusetts's Center for Collaborative Leadership Senior Fellow. It also says the reverend was an MIT fellow in the institution's Urban Studies Department.
Reverend Peterson calls himself "a political theologian, focusing on applied social ethics and racial justice in the public square."
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