Boston City Employee Charged in Connection to Fatal Shooting
City employees in Boston are facing criminal charges related to a fatal shooting that took place in April, marking the fourth arrest of an individual associated with Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration, according to a report from the Boston Herald.
Jacqueline Cherisme, who works with the Boston Public Health Commission, is alleged to have played a role in the death of a bystander during a drive-by shooting on April 19. Cherisme, an employee since 2019, was arrested in June and charged with being an accessory after the fact.
The Boston Herald reported that Cherisme’s passenger, Charles Dixon, allegedly fired shots at a man who had assaulted two bystanders, resulting in one death. Prosecutors claim that Cherisme provided false information to the police hours after the incident.
A spokesperson for the Boston Public Health Commission confirmed that the organization is aware of the pending charges against Cherisme, who has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. “They are subject to collective bargaining agreements, and we follow the customary management process necessary before further action,” the spokesperson stated.
This incident is part of a troubling trend within Wu’s government, where several city employees have faced arrests recently. For instance, Daunasia Yancey, who serves as the city’s deputy director of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement, remains in her position despite being charged with assault with dangerous weapons and battery. Her case is particularly notable as she reportedly assaulted her girlfriend’s ex-wife during a dispute.
In May, two more city officials—Marwa Khudaynazar, chief of staff for the police accountability department, and Chulan Huang, business manager for the Bureau of Economic Opportunity—were also arrested for related charges of domestic violence. Both were placed on unpaid leave and subsequently fired by the city shortly after their arrests.
As of now, neither the Boston Public Health Commission nor the mayor’s office have responded to requests for comments concerning these incidents.
