Man who had a murder charge dismissed is arrested on gun charges

Diovanni Carter, who had a murder charge dismissed last year when the main witness against him died, was arrested on gun charges after a traffic stop early this morning, Boston Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney's office report.

Carter, 26, was the passenger in a car that officers on patrol spotted with "excessive window tint and a broken driver’s side mirror" around 1:45 a.m. outside 68 Norfolk St. in Dorchester, police report:

When officers attempted to stop the car, the vehicle slowed but did not fully stop on several occasions when there was ample opportunity to do so safely. Each time the vehicle slowed the officers saw the passenger shifting and moving around suspiciously inside the vehicle. Once the officers were finally able to approach the car, they were informed that the operator was not licensed to operate. Officers requested that the two occupants exit the vehicle, then performed a frisk of the occupants as well as the area within reach inside the vehicle. During the frisk the officers discovered an unloaded 9mm Glock semi-automatic firearm in the unlocked center console. Further investigation allowed officers to determine that the firearm belonged to the passenger.

Carter was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a large-capacity firearm. He was also charged as an armed career criminal, which will add to his sentence if he is found guilty of the first two charges, according to police, who add the driver was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

In 2014, Carter was charged with repeatedly and fatally shooting Jajuan Griffin on June 12, 2013. According to the DA's office, Carter fired into a group of men at Franklin Field, then, after hitting Griffin and watching him fall to the ground, went up to him and fired four more rounds into him at point-blank range.

In December, 2014, however, the main witness against Carter died - of causes not considered suspicious, according to the DA's office. Prosecutors then obtained a "nolle prosequi" dismissal of the murder charge.

Innocent, etc.