A 16-year-old was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Jamaica Plain after officers allegedly observed him carrying a loaded handgun near a school, according to the Boston Police Department.
Police said members of the Youth Violence Strike Force were conducting surveillance near the Community Academy in Jamaica Plain as part of an ongoing firearm investigation when they saw the juvenile leave the school area around 2:10 p.m. on May 12, 2026.
According to investigators, officers observed the teen adjusting his waistband before seeing a semiautomatic handgun tucked into it. When officers attempted to stop him near Glen Road and Washington Street, police said he fled on foot and discarded both a backpack and the firearm during the pursuit.
Authorities said the firearm, identified as a loaded Smith & Wesson SD9, was recovered beneath a stopped SUV. Officers later took the teen into custody.
Police said the handgun had one round in the chamber and an additional round in a large-capacity magazine.
The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services issued a detainer following the arrest. The juvenile is expected to be arraigned in West Roxbury District Juvenile Court on firearm and ammunition-related delinquency charges.
