1. Laura's cousin was shot four times Saturday night. Freckle-faced Tito from around the way. In serious condition at Boston Medical Center, 5th floor. Marilyn was telling me about it: he has enemies and he likes to fight.

2. Pura's son, the suspected shooter, was shot a few nights later by Tito's boys, in retaliation. He's now on the 7th floor at Boston Medical Center.

3. This is part of something that's been going on for around 12 years, since a school bus driver's home was attacked. It's not a gang war per se, but a feud between residents of the Cathedral and Villa housing communities. It flares up every summer and, some years, people get killed.

4. People put up with it. They have to adjust to their unsafe neighborhood but when the cops ask around, nobody saw anything. Some kids get caught and go to jail; they come out 6-8 years later. They go back to fighting -- their enemies are still their enemies. Maybe additionally unfortunate -- their friends remain their friends.


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