History of violence plaguing Caribbean events in Boston, Cambridge

Dawnn Jaffier, 26, was shot and killed while at the Caribbean Festival in Boston.

Violence has taken place at and around Caribbean festivals in both Boston and Cambridge repeatedly in recent years. Incidents include:

• On Aug. 24, 2019, two men exchanged gunfire in plain view of officers at Boston’s J’ouvert Parade. Police arrested Michael Warner, 34, of Hyde Park and Atunbi Bryan, 27, of Brockton in Dorchester in connection with the shooting. Police Commissioner William G. Gross said the violence stemmed from parties before and after the event and was unrelated to the Caribbean Carnival Parade, which started about five hours after the J’ouvert Parade. Cambridge authorities said the incident sparked their concern of retaliatory violence at that city’s Caribbean parade next week.
• In 2017, two men were shot — one in the foot, the other in the leg — at the Cambridge Caribbean Carnival.
• On Aug. 23, 2014, Dawnn Jaffier, 26, was shot in the head when she was caught in the crossfire of two rivals with gang ties at the J’ouvert Parade in Boston. In December 2017, Keith Williams, 21, and Wesson Colas, 25, were convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the youth mentor’s killing.
• In 2010, three parade watchers were shot, one of them fatally, in connection with the Boston Caribbean Carnival.
• In 2008, a man police believed to be attending the carnival was found stabbed to death in a Dorchester park.
• In 2007, four people were stabbed as they attended festival-related events.
• On Aug. 25, 2001, Darryl Green, 28, and Branden Morris, 24, were accused of fatally shooting Terrell Gethers at Boston’s annual Caribbean Carnival. They were indicted on first-degree murder charges by a Suffolk County grand jury in June 2006.
• In 1993, seven people were shot during the carnival. Police blamed feuding gangs.