Boston Police: Duo robbed five people, shot two in morning crime spree

By Matt Rocheleau, Globe Correspondent

Two men allegedly robbed five people at gunpoint and shot and wounded two in five separate incidents across Boston over a two-hour span before being arrested this morning, authorities said.

Between 6 and 8 a.m., the duo committed robberies in four Boston neighborhoods, according to Boston Police, according to Boston Police.

At about 10:15 a.m., officers spotted a green station wagon with a license plate that matched the description given by people who said they had been robbed, police said.

A man in the passenger seat of the vehicle, which was parked near 242 Warren St. in Roxbury, appeared to be sleeping, officials said. When the driver returned to the car, officers arrested the duo, and found a gun, police said.

Carlos Rivera, 24, and Eric Cruz, 23, both of Boston, face two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and five counts of armed robbery, along with illegal gun possession charges, police said.

Two of the people they allegedly robbed suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds, authorities said. Victims said that items stolen from them included wallets and cell phones.

During the first alleged robbery, a male, whose age police did not disclose, suffered from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. Police were alerted at 6 a.m. by the activation of a ShotSpotter, a device that recognizes the sound of gunshots, near 94 Howard Ave. in Dorchester. They transported the wounded man to Boston Medical Center.

About a half-hour later, officers responded to a call about an armed robbery near Jersey and Queensberry streets in the Fenway neighborhood, according to police. A male, whose age police did not disclose, told officers he was walking to work when he was approached from behind by someone who showed a gun and said: “Give me everything.”

At about 7:15 a.m., officers were flagged down by a female, whose age police did not disclose. She told police that she had been robbed by an armed man who demanded money from her as she walked near 11 Collins St. in Hyde Park, Boston Police said.

Twenty minutes later, officers responded to a radio call about a person robbed and shot near 47 Sydney St. in Dorchester, authorities said. A male, whose age police did not disclose, was transported to Boston Medical Center with an apparent gunshot wound.

At about 8 a.m., officers responded to a radio call about an armed robbery in Roxbury, officials said. A female, whose age police did not disclose, told officers she was walking near Regent and Herman streets when she was robbed at gunpoint.