Two injured in daytime stabbing near Downtown Crossing, police say

Crime

One person suffered life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made, according to police.

Two people were stabbed during an altercation near Downtown Crossing in Boston on Sunday, according to police. 

Officers responded to the area of 71 Summer St. for a report of a fight at about 3:37 p.m. When they arrived, police found one victim with multiple stab wounds. They were transported to a local hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, according to a Boston Police Department spokesperson. 

A second victim with life-threatening injuries later showed up at a local hospital. Homicide detectives responded. But the second victim is expected to survive, and homicide detectives are no longer involved in the investigation, which remains ongoing, the spokesperson said. No arrests have been made. 

The two victims were both delivery drivers, WHDH reported. 

In recent years, officials have been engaging in a renewed effort to improve safety in downtown Boston. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and other leaders attended a closed-door meeting in February, where they agreed on the need for urgent action and began to lay out next steps. 

A follow-up summit, which was open to the public, occurred in late October. Officials showed evidence that violent crimes, syringe-related 311 calls, and overdose deaths are decreasing in the area, but residents and business owners still voiced concerns about retail theft and other safety issues. 

Shoplifting is on the rise, especially in major retail areas like Downtown Crossing.  An initiative to combat shoplifting started by the BPD and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office last year is showing signs of working, but challenges remain. 

There is evidence that some policy changes are beginning to be felt by residents. Last November, 71% of downtown residents reported feeling less safe than they did at the beginning of 2024, according to a survey administered by the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association. 

The group repeated that survey this year, finding that the percentage of residents who feel less safe dropped to 34%. On the other hand, 17% of residents reported feeling more safe in November 2025 than they did at the beginning of the year, compared to 2% who said the same in November 2024.