Smoke Signals

Yesterday morning a man set fire to his own apartment. He was shot twice in the leg and his grandfather was dying. Many details have yet to be released about this incident, but Bostonist knows the principles of self-defense have been creatively applied. There are a few tips that Bostonist has picked up over time to keep us safe when walking down dark unfriendly streets; keep your keys spread between your fingers—ready to gash, walk in the middle of the street if there is no traffic—it reduces the risk of being caught off guard, and yell “Fire” instead of “Help” if you are assaulted. DeRunn Funches in Roxbury sent up smoke signals yesterday when he lit a fire in his own Boston Housing Authority apartment on Ruggles Street. Funches admits setting the fire claiming that he couldn’t get to a phone. Bostonist does not recommend setting a fire, but merely yelling “fire” as it often gains more attention than yelling help.

The elder Funches died on the way to Boston Medical Center yesterday apparently of a heart attack. He had been beaten, shot, and apparently strangled. DeRunn Funches, the grandson, was shot twice in the legs—a shooting described by one EMT as a signal. Shots to the legs are not generally fatal, the intent is to injure rather than murder. A 911 call was placed from the 180 Ruggles Street building as someone heard the calls for help coming from the 6th floor apartment, firemen arrived on the scene first. After accessing the apartment through the window because there was a large appliance blocking the doorway firemen quickly turned the investigation over to the police department.