BOSTON — A 24-year-old Dorchester man was arrested on multiple firearm charges Saturday evening during a basketball tournament at Harambee Park.
Zayondre Downing was taken into custody at about 6:15 p.m. by officers assigned to District B-3 in Mattapan.
Police were monitoring the crowd at the basketball tournament when a sergeant observed two individuals walking toward him.
One person alerted the other to the sergeant’s presence, and the second individual began grabbing the right side of his waistband, according to police.
The two men walked quickly toward the Talbot Avenue side of the park and initially evaded officers.
A description of the suspects was broadcast to all officers working the event.
Officers spotted the suspects again during an altercation between the basketball courts, with both men reaching toward their waistbands before fleeing when they saw police.
When officers observed the suspects for a third time, they were able to position themselves in front of and behind the men to prevent their escape.
During a pat frisk, officers recovered a firearm from a backpack.
The weapon was identified as a Beretta Pachmayr with one round in the chamber and eight rounds in a magazine capable of holding 10 total rounds.
The firearm had an obliterated serial number, police said.
Downing is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
