Family of Lynn shooting victims asks for community’s help to ID shooter

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A family member of one of the victims killed in a mass shooting that occurred early Saturday morning in Lynn is asking for the public’s help in finding the shooter, saying that police have no leads on who opened fire, a city councilor said.

Lynn City Councilor Coco Alinsug, who represents the area where the shooting occurred, said he visited Essex Street Monday morning to “pay homage” to a “young man, Jandriel Heredia, who lost his life in his own home this weekend.”

“While there, I soon realized that his uncle was also in the area and immediately we recognized each other,” Alinsug posted on Facebook. “I spoke with him, I comforted him — he has been crying since this happened.

“He also updated me and asked me to spread the news that they have no lead to the shooter. We need the public’s help.”

Alinsug said the public can submit an anonymous tip to the Lynn Police Department at 84741, “for any information you want to share with them.”

The same request is made via a sign posted at the scene of the shooting, 189 Essex St., where police and prosecutors said two people were killed and five others were injured Friday night. A memorial is also set up there, marking the loss.

Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker said investigators are working to determine what kind of car was used in the drive-by shooting, as well as the number of perpetrators. Authorities believe the suspects targeted people holding a party there.

The two men killed were identified by authorities as 25-year-old Abraham Diaz of Lynn and 21-year-old Jandriel Heredia of Revere.

No further update was provided on the condition of the five other victims on Monday.

GoFundMe pages have been created by family members of both fatal shooting victims.

Michael Satterwhite, a candidate for City Council, said on his Facebook page Monday that police detectives were knocking on doors in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, looking for surveillance footage from 2-3 a.m.

The incident took place at approximately 2:20 a.m. Saturday, police said.

“This shooting damages the trust and safety that we so often take for granted in our city,” Alinsug said.

A sign at a memorial in a parking lot next to 189 Essex Street in Lynn urging people to contact the police with any information September 4, 2023. (Staff Photo Chris Christo/Boston Herald)
A sign at a memorial in a parking lot next to 189 Essex Street in Lynn urging people to contact the police with any information September 4, 2023. (Staff Photo Chris Christo/Boston Herald)

SAG-AFTRA strikers rally in Boston for Labor Day

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New England actors with SAG-AFTRA returned to Boston in force for Labor Day — marching through Downtown Crossing with a full band and parade of labor allies.

“Our steps reverberate with the legacy of generations who fought for workers rights, reminding us that our struggle is a torch passed down through time,” said NEW England Local SAG-AFTRA President Andrea Lyman. “Let our presence here today be a testament: we are unyielding.”

Members of the striking union gathered Monday afternoon with other union allies and elected officials on the steps of Downtown Crossing, having marched through the streets from the Labor Day Breakfast.

Speakers echoed the union’s three major concerns: raising wages to match inflation, adjusting pay for residuals so actors get compensated fairly for streaming content and — with emphasis — establishing protections from AI uses of their likeness and threats to their jobs.

“This is very important — as you heard the congresswoman say, we are setting a precedent,” said SAG-AFTRA member Daniel Washington. “We are in an industry that when we have trouble, it’s truly televised. It is all over social media. Everybody sees it. And we are the first to put these gloves up against AI like this, right? That is super important.”

The union received avid support Monday from elected officials, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

“Last year, Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, he took home a whopping $27 million,” Warren said. “Just think about that for a minute. $27 million for 52 weeks of work. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of SAG-AFTRA members are scraping by on less than $27,000 a year.”

The politicians noted the importance of this moment and strike in the future of labor fights as technology, massive wealth gaps and other considerations rise, with Markey noting a “transitional point” and Pressley asserting an “inflection point in our history and paradigm shift.”

Union members emphasized repeatedly the importance of not giving in or “getting tired” and sticking with the fight as long as it takes.

“This gives me goosebumps,” said Michelle Proude, SAG-AFTRA Vice President of Mid-Sized Locals, indicating the crowd. “Because the strength that we hold in union solidarity is bigger than anyone really realizes. And every single time we come to an event where we get this kind of support it gives us the strength to fight one more day.”

Members of Sag-Aftra march down Stuart St as they rally on Labor Day in Boston,MA. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald (Monday,September 4, 2023).
Members of SAG-AFTRA march down Stuart Street as they rally on Labor Day. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
City Councilor Julia Mejia and Senator Ed Markey dances in the street as musicians play during a Sag-Aftra march and rally on Labor Day in Boston,MA. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald (Monday,September 4, 2023).
City Councilor Julia Mejia and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey dance in the street as musicians play during the SAG-AFTRA march and rally. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Members of Sag-Aftra march past the Paramount Theatre as theyrally on Labor Day in Boston,MA. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald (Monday,September 4, 2023).
Members of SAG-AFTRA march past the Paramount Theatre. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston firefighters battle 4-alarm blaze in Dorchester, 35 residents displaced and one firefighter injured

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Boston firefighters knocked down a heavy fire in Dorchester Monday afternoon, as the rear porches of a multi-family home collapsed.

Nearly three dozen residents were displaced by the fire, and one firefighter suffered minor injuries.

The Boston Fire Department responded to the heavy blaze in the rear of 37 Holiday St., before 4 p.m. on Labor Day.

The fire reportedly extended to the building next door and in the rear, and a fourth alarm was ordered for the heavy fire.

“The rear porches of 37 Holiday St. have collapsed, all companies are working,” Boston Fire tweeted.

After 4 p.m., the fire department reported that the heavy fire had been knocked down on all three of the buildings.

Overall, 35 residents, three dogs and one cat were displaced after the fire.

“⁦@RedCrossMA, ⁦@Boston_CEC help find housing,” Boston Fire tweeted. “The cause is still under investigation.”

The rear porches collapsed at 37 Holiday St., in Dorchester on Monday. (Boston Fire photo)
The rear porches collapsed at 37 Holiday St., in Dorchester on Monday. (Boston Fire photo)

Jill Biden tests positive for Covid-19

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First lady Jill Biden tested positive for Covid-19 Monday evening and is “currently experiencing only mild symptoms,” according to the White House.

The first lady, 72, will remain at her home in Rehoboth Beach, Del., her communications director Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement. She has been vaccinated and received boosters.

This is the first lady’s second Covid diagnosis. She first tested positive in August 2022, shortly after President Joe Biden tested positive for the virus.

The president, who tested negative for Covid on Monday night, took a solo trip back to D.C. from Delaware. The couple had been staying in their vacation home over the weekend after visiting Florida together Saturday to tour some of the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Idalia.

Earlier Monday, when the president made a visit to Philadelphia for a Labor Day event, the first lady stayed in Delaware.

The 80-year-old president “will test at a regular cadence this week and monitor for symptoms,” according to a statement by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Biden is scheduled to leave for India later this week to attend the G-20 summit. He then has plans to fly to Vietnam over the weekend before returning home.