12/21/16 update: A suspect has been arrested in this case. See this follow up post.
A man was stabbed Tuesday, December 20th, around 1:30 p.m. at Ausonia Apartments, the public housing complex at 185 Fulton Street in Boston’s North End.
Family members have identified the victim as Bobby Pirelli, mid-50s, a resident of the building. He was transported to Mass General with life threatening injuries, including multiple stab wounds.
Boston Police detectives are actively investigating the case.
wow. no comments? i guess a young professional has to do the stabbing to get a rise out of the north end natives.
I thought the same thing….I live across the street and it was crazy yesterday. I am shocked to see this hasn’t gotten more attention. The bike lanes, garbage, and noise get more comments, go figure
I find it kind of strange that the two of you would use a tragic situation like this(somebody is in critical condition) in order to prove some sort of point about the community. It shows true colors.
Btw I’m not “from” here but lived here very long and know most of the community and i don’t recognize the name of the person stabbed. Don’t believe he is from the neighborhood. Not only are you insensitive but you both make no sense.
Lastly, that building houses disabled people (including veterans) from across the city of Boston not just the north end. This situation could have been caused by mental illness. So please get your facts straight before you show your true ignorance.
Merry Christmas/happy holidays
I am not sure at all how you find this statement to be ignorant… The reason I found the lack of comments and attention to this story odd is the fact that this IS a tragedy (un like a bike lane ha!) I have lived in this neighborhood for over 10 years myself and have lived across the street from this complex for 5 years. The residents have always been friendly to visit with and I was saddened and frighted watching this unfold. It has been surprising to see a lack of information considering the suspect is still at large (as far as I know….not trying to show ignorance or mess up “facts”) May you find more peace this Holiday season, because this thread was meant to be anything but mean spirited or ignorant and I am sad for you that you took it that way.
Truth… If you log onto this website in order to look for online arguments and controversy under a fake name you may want to consider a new hobby in life.
And for the record as stated by Gino, that building is filled with people from all over Boston. The man involved is not a “north end native”. But I don’t worry about where he is from just hope he ends up ok especially during the holiday season.
wow. you do not agree with my personal opinion, so you accuse me of looking for online arguments and controversy? i know my views differ from the majority on this site, but this alternative view actually adds value to the conversation. if you do not like my comments, then do not read them. if matt does not like my comments, he does not have to post them (for the record, he does not post a number of them, and that is perfectly fine because it is his website). i have lived in the neighborhood for more than ten years, so while i may not be old school enough for you and others, i certainly have the right to comment on neighborhood issues. happy holidays!
For now you have a first amendment right to comment on this post unless Matt blocks you. You do not have the right to constantly be a condescending disrespectful punk and look for a fight with people who have lived here their entire lives. Big deal you lived here 10 yrs. Congratulations. I have lived here 32 years . Does that give me the right to be 3 times as nasty as you are or 3 times the A$$hole you are?
your post has more furor than probably all of my comments combined. sorry.
Your attitude is why people get angry. , Why was it necessary to make that snarky comment about a young professional needing to do the stabbing to get the neighborhood to get a rise out of the neighborhood? You just like to be a freaking ball breaker. You can dish it out but you cannot take it. Grow up!
the comment was in jest. if you frequently read the comments on this website, you will see that most all the blame for all the ills in and “decline” of this neighborhood are directed at “yuppies”, “young professionals” or “newcomers”, etc. if you do not see the ridiculousness of the double standard and hypocrisy in a lot of the comments, then you are in complete denial. as i have stated before, people from all groups contribute to the issues in this neighborhood. i not only see it every day, but this website has done a terrific job in documenting it over the years.
I agree with Gino, The person that got stab was a kind and helpful guy who helped anyone at anytime they needed it, also was President of the task force, amd an all around great person, and the person who did this was not a northender.
So get the facts stright.
Those apartments were built for elderly and 70% disabled citizens of the North End only………………….and now the residents are trash bags from outside the North End; most of whom are on welfare and other assistance………….I wish it was turned into a parking garage……………….we need better representation in the North End in the City Council………….
considering its public housing, anyone who lives there is getting some form of welfare or other assistance.
And your point would be what? Anyone who lives in low income public housing pays 30% of their income in rent. Most seniors live on social security checks of $1000 or less. Wow are you one miserable piece of work
read before you respond. the first post contended that the current residents are all on social services – as if that is bad thing. trust me, i am fine with a social safety net. my response to the post was that public housing in itself is a form of social service, so the poster condemning only the new residents for being on social services is 100% inaccurate.
mea culpa. I did not read her comment all the way through. Her contention that the building was for “North End residents only” flipped my automated ido not read this comment switch.
More bad stories from Ausonia. The City started allowing people with substance abuse problems into a home for elderly. Bad mixture. I know they changed the management a few years ago, but being elderly, disabled and vulnerable is a different issue than being addicted. Again, bad mixture.
Shaking my head….Seems as though a Parking Garage is preferable to people who are elderly or disabled (if they are not from the North End). Typical North End mentality. They rent their houses out to “F’g Foreighners” which is the acronym for anyone who moves in and isn’t of Italian descent. Been there – done that. Loved the smell of the bread baking, pizza parlors with open windows, church bells ringing, but try to get a decent “good morning” from a North End native. Nope…you get a sour face, a glare, and you have to step over their dog poo as they won’t pick it up and keep their own neighborhood clean.
That’s more of a recent phenomena. Usually a reaction to self-righteous types who walk around putting on condescending airs with an obvious expression of disgust. Just so you know, for many here, the morning is over by the time that you get up to the sound of church bells or the smell of Regina’s pizza (that’s the smell of lunch). For the non-trust funded population, this is working hours.
But then again, this is not what the article (if you bothered to read) is about. Just another excuse to complain about a neighborhood that you have no history or vested interest in. But I can pretty much assure you, if you haven’t found a connection to the people in this neighborhood, that is YOUR problem.
Grace. You certainly hit the nail on the head. Your comment is great ! When I see certain names on this site, I feel tense because I know these bloggers have something acerbic to say. It is disheartening to realize that some people are sad, bitter, or angry and they upset everyone else.
This man is a close family member, and has a heart of gold….he has resided at that location for 15+ years and has been extremely kind to the Elderly and the Disabled folks in that building. UNLESS YOU KNOW HIM, please refrain from any and all negativity associated with this hanis attack. Up until yesterday, this apartment building has no history of violence.
This has happened at a very sad time of the year; out of respect for his beloved family members and friends, please allow us to pray for his recovery, and keep all negative comments pertaining to this horrific attack to yourself and out of the social media.
Judy, I have heard he is very good to the residents there. If you don’t mind, please update us on his condition when you have a chance. May he have a speedy recovery.
This man is a close family member, and has a heart of gold….he has resided at that location for 15+ years and has been extremely kind to the Elderly and the Disabled folks in that building. UNLESS YOU KNOW HIM, please refrain from any and all negativity associated with this hanis attack. Up until yesterday, this apartment building has no history of violence.
This has happened at a very sad time of the year; out of respect for his beloved family members and friends, please allow us to pray for his recovery, and keep all negative comments pertaining to this horrific attack to yourself and out of the social media.
Okay, I will thanks
This person is a very dear friend of mine. He would give you the shirt off his back. Please be respectful of his family and friends. Shame on you!!!
I have lived and built in the North End 35 years. I am over 70 and still
work 8 hours a day. The people, not all but most, in the Ausonia at just
trash bags.
They curse, smoke, gamble, drink booze in public and are trying to make
our neighborhood like the shit holes they came from.
Neighborhoods are made bad by the people who live in those neighborhoods;
and not by boy scouts coming in from Chestnut Hill.
Are there any cameras in these buildings that show who comes in & out?
I agree with the comment the elderly should never have to be subjected to drug addicts living in the same
building.
I think it is time for extreme vetting, not only in this particular location, but in all neighborhoods who
house the elderly & disabled. Cameras are a necessity.
No one should ever be subjected to drug addicts living nearby in building. Extreme vetting does not work in these cases. I know that the Michelangelo has cameras, and people do not allow anyone in unless they know them. There is a phone system to call the person you are visiting, and tenants say they just walk by and not let the person in. That is good. How one can control the Ausonia is another story. The environment lends itself to these comings and goings, hence, it becomes a breeding ground for violence, although this is the first I have heard anything this drastic. It was not a random act. The two knew one another, according to all reports.
There have been issues at Ausonia over the years that have not been reported or publicized.True there has not been anything this severe & I agree that drug addicts should not be living alongside anyone particularly people who are disabled & the elderly.
Yes Michael. Do you remember the Burning Bed? The woman set the bed on fire thinking her boyfriend
was in it.
Yes Joan I do,I also have heard complaints from tenants about some of the shady characters that have moved in that are neither elderly or disabled.
Well Michael, whoever is running the operation of this building should definitely be fired.
Very interesting comments! 75% of which are fiction. I am the victim of this crime, and am doing well after nearly losing my life. Thank you to those of you that know me, that posted to this article. If anybody feels the need to know exactly what happened, feel free to contact me at any time here at the Ausonia. The Ausonia is a wonderful building that has 100 units, most of which are occupied by wonderful people. Thank you to Boston EMS and MGH for saving my life, and thank you to my relatives, friends and neighbors for all the well wishes
Sincerely,
Robert Pirelli