AMHERST — Two boys have been identified by police as responsible for several recent incidents in which BB shots struck residences and other locations at an Amherst apartment complex.
The juveniles, who are brothers, turned over a BB gun to detectives and their mother has been cooperative during the investigation, according to Police Capt. Ronald Young.
Young, in a statement issued by the police department May 13, said there is an ongoing investigation following the initial incident, reported by a resident at Colonial Village at 81 Belchertown Road on May 9 at 6:46 p.m.
In that incident, a resident discovered a hole in an apartment window that police determined was made by a BB shot. When that incident occurred is not known, Young said.
At about 1:19 p.m. May 11, another resident reported hearing a shot fired. She was not hit by a projectile, nor did she see anyone firing a weapon or know if it was directed at her.
Because the reported incidents involved two international graduate students at the University of Massachusetts, officials there, including Barbara Krauthamer, dean of the Graduate School and senior vice provost for interdisciplinary programs, and Nefertiti Walker, interim vice chancellor for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, sent a letter to all graduate students advising them that campus staff is offering students resources and support.
“Our students’ well-being is always a campus priority and we recognize the outpouring of concern expressed by faculty, staff and other students,” the letter states. “We want to assure you we will remain closely engaged with the students and local authorities.”
Police have since discovered BB gun damage in multiple locations throughout the complex and determined, after interviewing witnesses, that youths in the neighborhood have been playing with and firing a BB gun in recent weeks. Investigators have recovered some of the projectiles, which all appear to be of the same type and are a unique color, Young said.
Detectives will consult with the Northwestern district attorney’s office on how to proceed, Young said.
