Mission Hill hardware store owner killed during apparent robbery

BOSTON — Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said the owner of a store on Tremont Street has died after being shot Tuesday afternoon.

The shooting happened around 4 p.m. at 1562 Tremont St., at the AC Hardware store.

Three people were seen leaving the scene in a van. Police were able to track down the vehicle a short distance away. After a chase, the three suspects fled the scene but were taken into custody by officers.

Just last month, AC Hardware had recently been named the Mission Hill Business of the Year.

“No one should suffer the loss of life when all they’re trying to do is make a living," Evans said. “Obviously a very hard working, well-respected merchant in the area."

Neighbors said the hardware store had been open for more than four decades, and owner Andres Cruz was a fixture.

“This guy is an icon in this community and you just wouldn’t believe that anyone, because he’s known by everyone, would want to harm him,” neighbor Bruce Pickerstaff said. “I know one thing - this is truly senseless.”

The three suspects have been identified as 21-year-old Christian Soto-Olivero of Mattapan, 38-year-old Jerome D. Hobson of Dorchester and 26-year-old Shawn Redden of Brockton. They will be charged with murder and firearms related charges and are expected to appear in Roxbury District Court Wednesday morning.

Investigators said they believe this was a robbery because there appears to have been a struggle inside the business.

Mayor Marty Walsh said that while this may sound like violence that has been happening around the city all summer, it isn't the same.

“This is different than what we’re dealing with on a day to day basis allegedly we have three punks here who came to this neighborhood and brought a lot of pain and suffering into this community,” he said.

The neighborhood is home to many students at Northeastern University and Wentworth Institute of Technology, there is also a daycare located across the street.

Cox Media Group