Cambridge Man Charged With Murder in July 4 Shooting of City Worker
A Canton man has been arraigned on murder charges in the fatal July 4 shooting of a Cambridge Department of Public Works employee, and the MBTA announced the Red Line will suspend service across all Cambridge stations for 10 days later this month.
TOWN HALL
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Cambridge Police Commissioner Pauline Wells announced that Rayquon Brown, 29, of Canton, has been arrested and charged with murder, carrying a firearm without a license, being an armed career criminal, and conspiring to commit murder in connection with the July 4 shooting death of Xavier Bautista. Bautista was found shot in the area of Norfolk Street and Broadway Street around 5:24 a.m. that morning. Brown was arraigned at Cambridge District Court and held without bail; the next court date is Friday, July 17.
The MBTA will close Red Line service between Alewife and Park Street for 10 consecutive days, from July 21 through July 30, replacing train service with free, accessible shuttle buses making all stops along the route. Separately, the License Commission has approved seasonal alcohol-to-go sales, designated public consumption districts, and a one-hour extension of alcohol service hours for approved bars and restaurants, acting on a recommendation from the City Manager's Office. The Commonwealth has also elevated Cambridge and the broader Northeast region from a Level 2 "Significant Drought" to a Level 3 "Critical Drought" status. The city continues its free Tuesday evening concert series at Danehy Park through the summer, and is partnering with the Office of Tourism and CambridgeSide for a free FIFA World Cup final watch party near Lechmere Square on Sunday, July 19.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Cambridge Public Library's Main Branch lawn hosts Park Sounds on Saturday, July 18 at 2 p.m., featuring Cape Verdean-American artist riah, known for her single "Too Fast" and 2024 EP "Head/Space," as part of the library's free outdoor summer concert series funded in memory of Janet Axelrod. On Friday, July 17 at 3 p.m., the library's Summer Reading series brings a bilingual family concert, "¡Música!" with Mariana Iranzi, to the O'Connell branch, alongside a teen movie screening at the Valente branch and an American Sign Language basics workshop at O'Neill at 5 p.m. The Valente Branch has also expanded to Sunday hours, open 1-5 p.m. through July and August, while the Main Library remains closed Sundays until September.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Boston-based Burger Restaurant Opening New Location In Cambridge" — a Boston restaurant known for smoked burgers is bringing an expanded menu and dining concept to Kendall Square later this month, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge/boston-based-burger-restaurant-opening-new-location-cambridge).
"Arrest Made In Fourth Of July Fatal Cambridge Shooting" — Patch reports that Xavier Bautista was found shot and killed with two gunshot wounds early on July 4, a story the town's News Flash also covered today with additional detail on the murder charge against Rayquon Brown (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge/arrest-made-fourth-july-fatal-cambridge-shooting).
"🌱 Patch AM: How a new Harvard course is reshaping global arts leadership from Cambridge" — Patch's morning roundup highlights a new Harvard course on arts administration and museum leadership taught by a Cal State LA arts leader visiting Cambridge (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge).
COMING UP
The Post-Meridian Radio Players present "The Maltese Falcon" on Friday, July 17, according to the Cambridge Patch calendar. Sewing 101, a 90-minute beginner workshop at the library's Main branch Hive makerspace, runs Saturday, July 18 at 9:30 a.m., alongside a Mandarin sing-along and story time for children at 10 a.m. the same day. The city's free World Cup final watch party takes place near Lechmere Square at CambridgeSide on Sunday, July 19.