Boston Blotter: Shooting Is the New Stabbing

It was such a short time ago that stabbings were flaring up all over the area. But yesterday shootings returned as the latest unfortunate trend in violence.

--A young woman was shot in the leg while walking around Lowell yesterday afternoon. Three suspects were arrested, and police were saying "she was not the intended target," but it doesn't matter. The episode is reminiscent of the murder of Quinntessa Blackwell, who was also not the intended target but who had to pay the price. If people want to settle a beef, the least they could do is shoot straight.

--In Dorchester, police responded to a fight at a high school and found fifteen bullets on a teenager. If the kids want to indulge their lawbreaking impulses, we'd much rather they stole beer.

--In Springfield, a guy on the lam from something he did in New York engaged in a shootout with police when they tried to serve him a warrant. He shot an officer in the leg, and police eventually killed him.

--At least there's good news somewhere. A group of tellers in Dorchester managed to reach police officers as a bank robbery was taking place, and the BPD got the suspect before any money was taken or damage was done.

--The former Boston officer who forced a prostitute to service him in exchange for not getting arrested has been sentenced to one year in prison. The officer said he snapped and violated the woman's rights because he was in the middle of a divorce and financial troubles. The judge remained unmoved, and the lawyer for the victim noted that the officer apologized to everyone – except the victim.

--As for weird blotter news, this might not be blotter material, depending on the source of the problem. The Lowell Registry of Motor Vehicles was filled with an unusual odor and had to be evacuated because people were concerned the source was carbon monoxide. According to WHDH, the smell has assaulted the building's employee's before.

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image of The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight from movieposter.com.