Fourth person charged in June shooting that killed one man and injured four others
BOSTON, October 7, 2026 – A Jamaica Plain teen was charged today in Suffolk Superior Court with murder, becoming the fourth person facing charges in connection to a June shooting that killed a 26-year-old man and left four others injured in Mattapan, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
CERRONE WILCOX BUFORD, 19, of Jamaica Plain was charged with first-degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, armed assault to murder, and several firearm-related offenses. Wilcox Buford was ordered held without bail. He will return to court November 3 for a pre-trial hearing.
On October 2, LAQUAN BURRIS, 18, of Dorchester was charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (firearm and shod foot). Burris was ordered held on $100,000 bail. Burris will return to court November 3 for a pre-trial hearing.
On September 28, JAVEN GIRAULT, 23, of Brockton was charged with carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a large capacity feeding device. Girault was ordered held on $5,000 bail. Girault will return to court November 3 for a pre-trial hearing.
An arrest warrant has been issued for MANNICE MITCHNER, 19, of Boston, who is being charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot).
Prosecutors said that on June 27 a fight started in the backyard of 1460 Blue Hill Avenue that moved to the front sidewalk. Video and witnesses on scene capture Wilcox Buford retrieving a firearm out of a bag and aiming it at the victim, Jose Dantes, 26, of Brockton. Dantes suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead on scene.
At least seven shots were fired. Four people suffered non-fatal wounds, including Burris, Girault, Mitchner and a 22-year-old male.
Hayden has made reduction of gun violence a priority of his administration and has assigned assistant district attorneys to every non-fatal shooting in order to assist investigations and explore possible connections to other shootings.
“This tragic incident provides an example of the damage that illegal guns in the hands of people willing to use them can inflict upon immediate victims and our larger society. We know that someone who pulls the trigger once will likely do it again and we’re working with all of our partners to identify, arrest and prosecute those individuals,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications