Fatal shooting of Cambridge father sparks calls for change at community meeting
By Mary Saladna
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WCVB) — The family of Xavier Bautista shot gathered near a Cambridge park Wednesday evening, just steps from where the 32-year-old father was fatally shot on July 4.
Bautista’s mother wept as his five-year-old son tried to make sense of the sadness. Bautista, who grew up in Cambridge and worked for the city’s Department of Public Works, was remembered by loved ones and city officials.
“His loss is profoundly devastating across our community,” said Cambridge mayor Sumbul Siddiqui.
Bautista’s best friend said they had attended a party on July 4 and stopped at McDonald’s before he dropped Bautista off at the corner of the street near his home.
“We went to a party, we went to McDonald’s after, and then I dropped him off at the corner of the street,” his friend said.
An hour after the shooting, a passerby discovered Bautista’s body on the ground and alerted police. Authorities said they had not received any reports of gunshots in the area.
Family and community members attended a meeting about the killing, rejecting reassurances that the city is safe overall.
“When you say Cambridge is safe, maybe for you, but not for Black and brown people,” said City Councilor Denise Simmons.
Bautista’s death has reignited debate over the city’s decision to end its ShotSpotter program two months ago, citing the gunfire detection technology as unreliable. Bautista reportedly lay on the ground for 60 minutes before a passerby found him and called for help.
“It sucks to know that anything could have made any difference, and it sucks to know that my brother was laying on the ground alone for an hour,” said Bautista’s sister, Victoria Angeles.
At the meeting, the family demanded answers.
“Who made that decision to close the ShotSpotter? Because we didn’t vote on it. Why were they shut?” a family member asked.
The decision to end the program was made by the City Council, despite police commissioner Pauline Wells’ previous support for the technology.
“I think we would have been in a better position if we had had that technology,” Wells said when asked if ShotSpotter could have led to a faster response for Bautista.
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