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Over 100 rioters swarm South End, cruiser set ablaze

Sunday, October 5, 2025
4 min read
MDN Staff
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Over 100 rioters swarm South End, cruiser set ablaze

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BOSTON — Chaos erupted in the heart of the South End overnight as more than 100 people turned a busy city intersection into a lawless warzone — torching a Boston Police cruiser, hurling fireworks at officers, and blocking off Massachusetts Avenue like a scene out of Fast & Furious: Tremont Street Edition.

Just after 2 a.m. Sunday, the normally quiet crossroads of Mass Ave and Tremont exploded into mayhem. Witnesses say a mob of young thrill-seekers flooded the intersection for a “vehicle takeover” — revving engines, blasting music, and lighting fireworks in the street — until the flashing blue lights of Boston Police rolled in. That’s when the crowd turned violent.

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Officers were met with a barrage of fireworks, metal poles, and traffic cones as rioters surrounded their cruisers. One marked police vehicle took the brunt of the assault — pelted with explosives until smoke poured from its windows. Flames licked the dashboard as the mob cheered, some climbing onto the hood like it was a victory parade. Within minutes, the cruiser was a burning wreck.

Boston Fire raced in to douse the inferno, but by then, the damage was done. The cruiser was totaled — a smoldering symbol of a city losing control of its streets.

Two Rhode Island teenagers — 18-year-old Julian Bowers of Cumberland and 19-year-old William Cantwell of Warwick — were hauled off in cuffs after officers chased them down. Police say Bowers hurled objects at cruisers before bolting, while Cantwell allegedly beat another cruiser with an orange pole. When searched, Cantwell was found carrying two packs of marijuana edibles — apparently his party favors for the night.

Both now face a laundry list of charges, including Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Malicious Destruction of Property, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest. Bowers and Cantwell are expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court.

Police towed away the charred remains of the cruiser as detectives combed through the debris — melted cones, spent fireworks, shattered glass — looking for clues. Crime Scene and Fire Investigation units were called in as the city assessed yet another blow in what’s become a summer of street anarchy.

Authorities are now urging the public to come forward with photos or videos of the melee. Tipsters can call 1-800-494-TIPS or text “TIP” to CRIME (27463). The department promises anonymity — though for Boston residents, the images of a police car engulfed in flames at the city’s busiest crossroads will be hard to forget.

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Over 100 rioters swarm South End, cruiser set ablaze - Mass Daily News