Crime

Man arrested for stabbing in Downtown Crossing, police say

Calvin Spencer allegedly attempted to flee the scene on the Red Line, but police arrested him near the Andrew Station T stop.

Blood was splattered on the sidewalk near the entrance of an AT&T store in Downtown Crossing. Strewn about next to the blood was a black backpack, various sneakers, white clothing and a red lighter. Sabrina Lam/Boston Globe

By Eva Levin

August 14, 2024

1 minute to read

A man stabbed another man multiple times in Downtown Crossing on Wednesday morning, police said.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the Boston Police Department’s incident report.

Officers responded to reports of a stabbing at Washington and Winter Streets around 8:14 a.m, the report said. Police said they found the victim with stab wounds in his back and arm. The victim remains unidentified. A release from the department said he will likely survive.

BPD said they worked with MBTA Transit Police to obtain security camera footage of the suspect. Transit Police found photos showing the suspect leaving a knife and a hat on the platform in the Downtown Crossing Red Line station, the report said.

Transit Police then found photos of the suspect leaving Andrew Station, according to the report. Authorities stopped and arrested the suspect, which the report identifies as Calvin Spencer, 33.

BPD said Spencer already had two separate warrants out for his arrest, one for larceny and one for failing to register as a sex offender. The report said he faces a charge of aggravated assault with a weapon. Spencer will be arraigned on Thursday, the statement said.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents Downtown Crossing is in, decried the stabbing on X.

“Another violent assault. It’s time to acknowledge the dangerous conditions throughout Downtown Crossing & Boston Common,” one of his posts said. “We need more police in the area and a criminal justice system that sentences violent criminals to prison.”

He posted a follow-up statement, recommending events planned on Boston Common cancel out of safety concerns.

Residents, workers & tourists continue to tell me they no longer feel safe in Downtown Crossing & Boston Common. With several permitted events already scheduled in Boston Common,I’m recommending these events not take place. Many parts of Boston Common are no longer safe! #bospoli pic.twitter.com/voMatJJF1c
— Ed Flynn 愛德華費連 (@EdforBoston) August 14, 2024

Anyone with information on the stabbing can contact BPD detectives at (617) 343-4571 or calling the anonymous CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS.