BOSTON, MA – A death investigation is underway in Mattapan after a person was discovered deceased from a gunshot wound inside a rental property owned by Conan Harris, the husband of U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). Boston Police officers responded to 25 Malta Street on Saturday afternoon following reports of a shooting victim.
"The Congresswoman extends her deepest condolences to the impacted family." — Representative Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Congresswoman
The incident unfolded around 1:52 p.m. on Saturday, when a radio dispatch alerted police to a shooting at the address. Almost simultaneously, a visitor approached a separate police station in Hyde Park, reporting a person shot at the same Malta Street building, specifically in apartment #2. Upon arrival, patrol officers located the victim in a bedroom. Paramedics pronounced the individual dead at the scene, leading police to classify the event as a death investigation.
A formal autopsy conducted on Sunday morning, first detailed by the Boston Globe, confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound. However, investigators have not yet labeled the case a homicide. Despite this distinction, Boston’s Homicide Unit has taken charge of the probe. Sergeant Detective John Boyle confirmed the unit’s involvement, describing the matter simply as a "death investigation." As of Sunday afternoon, police stated they had no further details to disclose.
The identity of the victim remains unreleased, pending family notification. Furthermore, investigators have not provided any public information regarding a potential suspect, a motive for the shooting, or the specific events that led to the death. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident, and authorities have not indicated whether any individual is considered a person of interest. Police have not announced a timeline for the release of additional information, nor have they issued any public appeal for witnesses, a tip line, or a reward. The Homicide Unit’s continued oversight suggests that investigators are treating the case with heightened scrutiny despite the absence of a homicide classification.
Public records confirm the property at 25 Malta Street is legally owned by Conan Harris, Representative Pressley’s husband. City filings list Harris as the owner of the century-old building, which was constructed in 1910. The multi-unit home spans approximately 2,713 square feet and contains seven to eight bedrooms along with four bathrooms. Assessors currently value the property at over $919,000.
Adding an unusual dimension to the case, the property was actively on the open market at the time of the shooting. Listing records show an asking price of $1.15 million, indicating the building was for sale even as tenants continued to reside within its units. Neither Representative Pressley nor Mr. Harris lives at the Mattapan address; their primary residence is located in Boston’s Hyde Park section, as confirmed by public records and the congresswoman’s office.
A representative for Representative Pressley acknowledged the Mattapan building’s rental status after the shooting and provided a statement attributed to the congresswoman. "The Congresswoman extends her deepest condolences to the impacted family," the spokesperson relayed.
Separately, the real estate agent marketing the home for sale spoke with WCVB television, confirming the active rental arrangement. She noted that the occupants "have resided there for a while" but declined to specify the duration of their tenancy.
Longtime residents of the block offered further insight into the multi-unit house. One neighbor, who has lived on the street for a decade, informed the Boston Globe that renters occupied every floor of the building, including high school-aged teenagers. Another nearby resident described an otherwise unremarkable day leading up to the shooting, stating she noticed nothing unusual. However, she admitted the incident left her feeling uneasy about the safety of her own children in the area.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting inside apartment #2 remain officially unexplained. Investigators have not addressed whether the ongoing sale of the property, the tenancy arrangements, or any personal dispute factored into the tragic event. The overlap of the property's status as an occupied rental and an active real estate listing, coupled with its ownership link to a sitting member of Congress, presents a unique set of circumstances for the ongoing death investigation. Police reiterated on Sunday that no further details were available for release as the investigation continues under the direction of the Homicide Unit.
