On a cold January evening in Boston, the life of a 19-year-old Black or African American male, Treshawn Boyd, was tragically cut short. On January 11, 2020, at approximately 8:25 p.m., Boyd was shot at the intersection of Normandy and Washington streets in Dorchester. Another man was also wounded in the attack but survived his injuries. Responding officers found both victims suffering from gunshot wounds, and they were quickly transported to local hospitals where Boyd was pronounced dead.
The incident marked the city's first homicide of the year.
The investigation into Treshawn Boyd's murder led to a swift arrest. On January 15, 2020, the Boston Police Department took 18-year-old Daventy Walker of Mattapan into custody. Walker was charged with murder for his alleged role in the shooting that killed Boyd and injured another individual. He was arraigned in Dorchester District Court the following day, which would have been Treshawn Boyd's 20th birthday. During the emotional court proceedings, Walker was ordered to be held without bail.
Prosecutors revealed that the shooting was captured on surveillance video, which showed Walker and other individuals running from the scene after the shots were fired. It was also disclosed that at the time of the incident, police were seeking at least one other potential suspect in connection with the double shooting. The motive for the shooting remained under investigation following the arraignment.
The tragedy of Treshawn Boyd's death was compounded by a painful piece of family history. The shooting occurred just a few blocks from where his father, Jamil Harmon, had been stabbed to death in 2010. Treshawn, a 2018 graduate of English High School, was remembered by those who knew him as a good kid with a kind heart who made everyone laugh with his goofiness. His smile was said to brighten up any room, and he was known for a signature dance that his friends and family would remember him for.
