It was the site of a murder in February, and now gunshots were reported outside Medallo Bar over the weekend morning.
At around 2 a.m. last Friday morning police responded to shots fired on Chelsea Street outside of the Medallo Bar. Witnesses like Jimmy Villanueva, who lives across the street from the bar, told reporters he heard 10 to 12 shots that woke him out of a sound sleep.
Police closed down the street and investigators found ballistic evidence and bullet holes in at least two cars.
This latest incident, coupled with the stabbing that killed a Revere barbershop owner in February has neighbors and other business owners in the area on edge. Some are even questioning if the bar should remain open.
The problem, explained some business owners in Day Square that have late night licenses to serve food, like Great Chef and La Chiva, is that allegedly intoxicated patrons of bars try to get food after the bars close. The mix of intoxicated people are a recipe for disaster as it leads to confrontations and, in some cases, fights.
One business owner admits he closes his doors and doesn’t let drunken people into his establishment after the bars let out at 2 a.m.
On Sunday, Feb. 17 Alfred Rodriguez was stabbed during an altercation outside Medallo Bar in the early morning hours.
Rodriguez, a father and owner of a barber shop in Revere, succumbed to his injuries at an area hospital three days after being stabbed in the chest.
A night out for Rodriguez turned deadly on that night when police were called to Medallo Bar at 2 a.m. that morning. Police found Rodriguez suffering from a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He survived for nearly three days before passing away on Wednesday, February 20.
Police were searching for three people caught on security cameras that may have had information on the attack.
Police said that the three individuals, one male and two females, were not considered suspects but they were in the area at the time of the stabbing.
The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding Friday’s incident.
Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner.
If you find yourself in need of emotional support or needing to talk to someone about distressing events in your community, the Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT) provides free, private support 24/7 at (617) 431-0125 or by visiting BPHC.org/trauma.