A pastor and teacher in Boston city schools was charged on Thursday with attempted murder after shooting a young man, only seventeen years old, in the head. Reverend Shaun Harrison, 55, pleaded not guilty to several charges when he appeared in Boston Municipal Court for his arraignment.

 

Police are also investigated ties Harrison may have to an illegal drug ring. The teen that he shot on Tuesday in Roxbury has not been identified, but it is believed that he was selling marijuana for Harrison. He is said to have promised the teen “girls and weed” to persuade him to engage in illegal activities on Harrison’s behalf.

 

After the arrest, Harrison was obviously discharged from Boston English High school where he conducted substance abuse and anger management programs. Harrison was known throughout the community for promoting against violence and preaching good practices, and trying to keep the area’s youth out of trouble. City Councilor Charles Yancey was shocked at the news, saying, “I’d seen him a few times at rallies, ironically anti-violence rallies. I saw him at a vigil on Bowdoin and Topliff streets where some kids had got shot. We were trying to win public support in finding out where the guns came from that were used in these homicides.”

 

Ironically, Harrison allegedly shot the 17 year old in the back of the head after having an argument with him over their marijuana-selling endeavors. A near-by security camera attached to a local business caught the whole scene on film, where Harrison shot the boy “execution style”, but prosecutors say that the victim is expected to recover.

 

Harrison is currently being held on $250,000 bail.