Investigation Update: On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, members of the Boston Police Fugitive Unit assisted with the apprehension of Hamilton Mejia-Lainez, 24, of East Boston, who was arrested by the U.S. Marshals in Los Angeles, California. The suspect is expected to be arraigned in East Boston District Court for Murder.
The facts and circumstances surrounding the prior incident are as follows: At about 1:24 AM on Sunday, August 2, 2026, officers assigned to District A-7 (East Boston) responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of 464 Meridian Street in East Boston.
Upon arrival, officers located Joseph Gabriel Lucas Gomez, 21, of East Boston, suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The Boston Police Department’s Homicide Unit is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.
Community members wishing to assist in this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner.
For those who find themselves in need of emotional support or simply needing to talk to someone about the distressing events in our community, the Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT) provides free, private support 24/7 at 617-431-0125.