Sterling Baptiste Jr.

Sterling Baptiste Jr. was a 14-year-old boy remembered by his family as a "wonderful son" and a good kid with a great sense of humor. A White / Caucasian male, Sterling was a freshman and honor roll student at North High School in Worcester, Massachusetts. He had played football his whole life and was looking forward to the next season. His father said he raised his son with discipline, structure, and love, teaching him how to be successful and stay on the right path. Sterling also loved camping, fishing, and playing video games.

On the afternoon of Friday, April 26, 2024, Sterling went to an apartment on Rodney Street in Worcester’s lower Belmont Street neighborhood to hang out with a friend. His father later said that other teenagers, whom his son did not know, were also in the apartment and had a gun. At approximately 4:15 p.m., police were dispatched to the address for a report of a possible shooting. Inside, they found Sterling suffering from a serious gunshot wound. Officers rendered medical aid, but paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.

The investigation into the shooting began immediately. In the early hours of the following morning, around 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, Worcester police arrested a 16-year-old in connection with the incident. The investigation continued, and on the subsequent Monday, police arrested a second male juvenile. His family described Sterling's death as a "senseless act of violence," and his father started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses.

Because both suspects were juveniles, their names were not publicly released. The first 16-year-old was arraigned in Worcester Juvenile Court, where hearings are closed to the public. Police announced that the second teenager arrested was charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card, and possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card. As of April 2024, the criminal proceedings against both juveniles remained pending in court.