At approximately 2:55 AM on Saturday, August 29, 2026, members of the Youth Violence Strike Force made two on-site arrests and recovered two firearms in the area of Woodrow Avenue and Milton Avenue in Dorchester.
While on patrol, officers observed two individuals operating a moped in the area of Blue Hill Avenue and Washington Street. The operator refused to obey traffic signals in the area, failing to stop at multiple red lights. Officers continued to observe the two individuals when they heard multiple gunshots coming from the area of Westview Street. Responding officers located an adult male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers eventually caught up to the scooter in the area of Woodrow Avenue. The operator of the scooter collided with the officers’ department motor vehicle while attempting to turn right onto Milton Avenue, causing the scooter to become entangled with the vehicle. The two occupants immediately jumped off of the scooter and fled on foot with officers in pursuit.
While pursuing suspect #1, officers observed the suspect reach into his waistband, remove a firearm and throw it onto the roof of 6 Milton Avenue. Officers eventually were able to apprehend suspect #1.
The firearm was determined to be a .40 caliber Glock 27.
Simultaneously, additional officers pursued suspect #2 who attempted to flee, but lost his footing causing him to fall to the ground where a struggle ensued. During the altercation, officers recovered a firearm from the suspect’s waistband.
The firearm was determined to be a Glock 19.
Officers arrested suspect #1, Ariel Alexander Baez-Lora, 18-years-old, of Hyde Park, and suspect #2, Jamari Owens, 30-years-old, of Jamaica Plain. Both are expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.
Baez-Lora is charged with Assault and Battery by means of a Dangerous Weapon to wit Firearm, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Firearm Violation with One Prior Violent/ Drug Crime, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device.
Owens is charged with Assault and Battery by means of a Dangerous Weapon to wit Firearm, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building, Carrying a Firearm without a License Third Offense, Firearm Violation with Two Prior Violent/ Drug Crimes, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Resisting Arrest, Failure to Stop/ Yield, Unregistered Motor Vehicle, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License.