Boston Police report arresting a South Boston man who allegedly used a scooter to transport a duffel bag containing an AR-15 rifle and enough ammunition to kill a large number of people down Centre Street in West Roxbury and into the parking lot of the Spring Street 7-Eleven, where he met with a couple of masked men yesterday.
According to police, a detective on duty decided to pursue Brendan Donovan, 45, about 12:45 p.m. after seeing him ignore a red light where Centre turns into Spring by St. T’s. According to authorities, Donovan slid along the pavement on Temple Street approximately a block away and then into the parking lot of the convenience store.
The detective also observed two individuals wearing masks walking from the same area. The detective maintained surveillance on all the individuals who now met up in the parking lot behind an unoccupied van. The detective could see the two individuals speaking with Donovan who was still straddling the scooter.
The detective requested additional units for assistance to stop the group, and approached the group with a walking beat officer. The detective immediately observed a firearm inside Donovan’s waistband, and removed it which was determined to be a less lethal CO2 firearm.
Assisting officers arrived on scene and removed the suspect from the scooter and the green duffle bag he was holding was placed on the sidewalk. Officers conducted a pat frisk of the bag and recovered an AR-15 Camouflage Assault Rifle, with two magazines containing thirty rounds and twenty-seven rounds.
The Less Lethal firearm was determined to be a Byrna Less Lethal Pistol with eight projectiles in the magazine. Officers also recovered a small plastic bag of Fentanyl from inside the duffel bag. The scooter was towed from the scene as it had no registration, and the other two individuals were identified and released from the scene.
According to authorities, Donovan was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a rifle, unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of criminal possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and possession of a class A drug.
Police would not disclose whether Donovan drove the scooter, along with the firearms and ammo, from South Boston to West Roxbury.
Donovan’s arrest for gun-related offenses is not his first. On January 19, 2018, he and another man were arrested in South Boston on suspicion of driving about the area with two weapons in a PT Cruiser. In June of that year, he pled guilty to two charges of unlawful handgun possession and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, according to court documents.
