Published November 24, 2010

Yesterday, after particularly violent newscasts during Morning Edition — the JP pizzeria killings, the Mattapan murders arraignment, the Lynnfield murder-suicide — I asked simply: What’s going on?

Today, we know a bit more about two of the crimes.

The Sept. 28 Mattapan quadruple homicide was armed robbery-turned-uglier. The defendants allegedly took drugs, cash and other items. The Herald’s Peter Gelzinis called it “a grisly, old-school crime … all about ripping off strutting drug merchants.”

The Lynnfield murder-suicide was reportedly — and if so, unconscionably — over an unborn child’s name. That unborn baby died when Joseph Cummings allegedly shot his girlfriend — before he killed her sister and himself.

Some details have been filled in. My question remains.

Here’s what commenter Desiree said in response to yesterday’s post:

I’m not sure what is going on, but someone please fix it!! I have lived in Boston for 7 yrs now (Kenmore, Dorchester, now JP) and have never seen the city this violent. I love Boston, but if this continues, I may have to consider moving elsewhere.

That’s an option no one would want. What’s going on, and what can be done? Continue the conversation in the comments.