On the evening of January 7, 2009, a tragic shooting in Dorchester claimed the life of 36-year-old Tyrone Smith, a male resident of Boston. The incident unfolded at approximately 9:21 p.m. in the vicinity of 96 Stanwood Street. Responding to a call for a person shot, Boston Police officers arrived to find two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both Smith and a 36-year-old female companion were rushed to Boston Medical Center.
While the woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Smith's injuries were grave, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The investigation into the homicide revealed a story of immense bravery in Smith's final moments. Prosecutors stated that Smith was entering the building at 94-96 Stanwood Street with the female victim and her 8-year-old son when two men, who had been lying in wait, approached and opened fire. In a selfless act, Tyrone Smith shielded the woman and her child from the barrage of bullets. While the woman was struck once in the shoulder, Smith sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died in the foyer of the building as the mother and her son managed to escape inside.
Following an extensive investigation by Boston Police homicide detectives and Suffolk County prosecutors, two suspects were identified and taken into custody on February 23, 2009. Trevon Mason, 21, and Daryl Pullen, 20, both from Dorchester, were arrested and charged with the murder of Tyrone Smith. At the time of the shooting, Mason was reportedly out on bail for a previous armed robbery charge. Both Mason and Pullen were ordered to be held without bail following their arraignment.
