A 16-year-old teen was shot and killed while riding his bicycle on Fuller Street in Dorchester Wednesday evening, officials said, the second shooting of a youth on a bike in the city in the past several weeks.
The unidentified teenager was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, police said.
At the scene Wednesday night, Commissioner William B. Evans said police are looking for two young males in sweatshirts who fled from the area on foot.
“Everyone should be outraged when a 16-year old on his bike gets shot,” Evans said. “We need the public to step up.
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“I can’t say I don’t think it was a random act, but I can’t go into that right now. It’s a terrible tragedy in the streets of Boston.”
Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who joined Evans, said, “We’re doing what we can to get guns off the streets. . . . However old people are, they shouldn’t be afraid of being shot.”
The mayor also said that more opportunities need to be available for young people.
Wednesday’s incident comes after 7-year old Divan Silva was shot on May 24 while riding his bike on Bowdoin Street in Dorchester. He was hit by a bullet in the thigh, but is recovering.
Evans said the killing of the 16-year-old was the 11th homicide in Boston this year. Last year around this time, he said, there were about 24 homicides.
The Rev. Mark Scott, associate pastor at Azusa Christian Community church on Washington Street, said neighbors must pull together.
“It’s my neighborhood. I live in Codman Square and I know the history of the violence between Fuller and Washington streets at a time when it was very bad,” Scott said. “It has gotten much better. There is a community in Codman Square that is resilient and we’re going to need that to get through this.
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“I would add that the community will heal better if there is justice. Any person with any information at all should please please share.”
The shooting sparked a strong reaction on social media, including from many in the community who appeared to know the victim.
“Told lil cuz I was going to see him when I had a weekend off . . . now I can’t,” one Twitter user wrote.
The public is encouraged to contact Boston police at 800-494-8477 and the homicide unit at 617-343-4470 with any information.
Alexandra Koktsidis can be reached at alexandra.koktsidis@globe.com. Jan Ransom can be reached at jan.ransom@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Jan_Ransom.