Cops: Shoot victim is kin to earlier battler

Cops: Shoot victim is kin to earlier battler

By O’Ryan Johnson  |   Monday, January 10, 2011  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage
Photo by Stuart Cahill

A Dorchester man who was shot in the leg by Boston police Friday night after he aimed a loaded M16-look alike rifle at them during a traffic stop is the brother of a man who allegedly killed himself after a gun battle with cops in April, police said.

Police said Marvin Veiga, 21, of Dorchester, who was arrested Friday night with a civilian version of the military’s M16, is expected to survive to face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, carrying a large-capacity rifle on a public way, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, possession of a loaded firearm and resisting arrest.

Despite a slightly different name, Veiga is the older brother of Manuel DeVeiga, 19, who shot at police and then killed himself during an April confrontation on Navillus Terrace in Dorchester, police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.

An investigation into Manuel DeVeiga’s death has not yet been completed, the Suffolk District Attorney’s office said yesterday. Within days of the April 2010 shooting, District Attorney Daniel Conley ruled the death a suicide. However, several people in the community doubted that DeVeiga would kill himself, and thought police killed him during the gunfight.

DeVeiga had a history of mental instability, including a monthlong stay in Bridgewater State Hospital. DeVeiga was released, but was prescribed several mood-stabilizing drugs.

In the older brother Viega’s case, cops said officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force were following a white Chrysler PT Cruiser, and attempted to pull it over. The car’s driver allegedly refused to stop and crashed moments later, police said. Three of the four men inside the car ran, while a fourth was quickly arrested. As police chased the suspect carrying the rifle, officers ordered him to drop the gun, police said.

“The suspect ignored officers’ commands and instead turned and pointed the rifle in the direction of the officers. As a result of the suspect’s actions, one officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect in the leg,” police said.

Veiga was taken to Boston Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The officer was also hospitalized for stress and placed on administrative duty, pending the outcome of a firearms discharge investigation. The driver, Osvaldir Mendes, 23, of Dorchester, Takari Elliott, 18, of Dorchester and Daronde Bethea, 18, of Milton also face firearms charges as well as resisting arrest.

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