Nigerian boy shot dead days before his birthday in USA

A Nigerian family is mourning 20-year-old Darell Alao, who passed on after being shot in Boston, United States, on October 7, 2026, less than three weeks before his 21st birthday. According to the Boston Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting at 1171 Hyde Park Avenue at about 5:09pm.

They found Darell suffering from a gunshot wound and took him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He would have turned 21 on October 27. Police arrested Christian Peebles, an 18-year-old Boston resident, on October 9 in connection with the incident. He was charged with murder. Darell’s mother, Nneka Alao, and other family members are preparing for his burial, scheduled for November 20, 2026.

However, his father, who lives in Nigeria, has reportedly been denied a visa to travel to the United States for the funeral. Friends and relatives have appealed to the US government to review the matter and assist with his visa application so he can attend his son’s burial and participate in the final rites.