A significant vehicle hijacking incident occurred in Boston, Massachusetts, with reports of a vandalized police car being set on fire in a chaotic confrontation with police.
Boston police reported that over 100 individuals participated in a street hijacking, which included a race car and an attack on a police vehicle involving fireworks, traffic cones, and poles shortly after 2 a.m. on October 5.
Larry Calderone, the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, stated that the participants showed a clear intent to target officers.
He remarked, “They were set on attacking police officers, and while such occurrences are rare, this one escalated quickly.” Calderone noted that the conflict spread across four neighborhoods, reaching as far as the South End.
“Last weekend’s events spiraled out of control, affecting multiple neighborhoods here in Boston. It seemed like they became increasingly aggressive at each spot they moved to,” he elaborated.
Calderone suggested that the entire situation appeared to be “almost premeditated.”
Simran Nalhatra, a witness, described the scene as resembling a riot, sharing how it left a lasting impression on her.
Another local resident, Laila Delorso, mentioned, “It was wild; fires erupted everywhere, and police cars were scattered for about a mile.”
Last week, two teenagers linked to the street takeover, 18-year-old Julian Bowers and 19-year-old William Cantwell, appeared in court.
Both from Rhode Island, they faced charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and damaging property worth $1,200 in Roxbury District Court.
Prosecutors sought bail amounts of $20,000 for Cantwell and $15,000 for Bowers; however, the judge ultimately set bail at $1,000 for Cantwell and $500 for Bowers.
This isn’t the first instance of “street hijacking” reported recently.
In September, Maryland law enforcement described an incident where a car was surrounded by a crowd during an “illegal carjacking,” which created significant disruption.
