A 26 year-old Boston woman died today after she was shot in the head as she walked on Blue Hill Avenue in J'Ouvert, a traditional morning parade that precedes the larger Boston Carnival celebration. Dawnn Jaffier was found suffering from gunshot wounds near the corner of Charlotte Street just after 8:15 a.m. Police were in the area to provide security for the annual event, which had drawn thousands to the avenue.

Police detained three men seen running from the shooting scene. One of those men, 18 year-old Keith Williams of Boston was arrested and charged with illegal gun possession. Williams has not been identified as a suspect in Jaffier's murder.

The shooting resulted in the premature suspension of the J'Ouvert procession, which follows a route from Morton Street to Franklin Park. The Boston Carnival, which stepped off from Martin Luther King, J. Boulevard later in the day, was not impacted.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Boston Homicide detectives at 617-343-4470.
Or call the anonymous CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800) 494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).