A violent beginning to Thanksgiving in Boston

Boston Police report the holiday began with murders in Mattapan and Dorchester and a shooting spree in East Boston:

At 12:22 a.m., police found Paul Brown, 29, lying with multiple gunshot wounds in front of 8 Malta St. in Mattapan. He was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he died.

At 1:44 a.m., police found Anthony Lewis, 25, with a gunshot wound inside 416 Talbot St. in Dorchester. He was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he died.

At 2:10 a.m., officers on patrol heard gunshots at Prescott and Bremen streets in East Boston:

On arrival at the above intersection, officers heard people screaming and then located two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds and a third victim with cuts to the face from glass. Officers requested EMS to their location to attend to the victims. The three victims were transported Massachusetts General Hospital, one with life threatening injuries and two others with non-life threatening injuries.

One of the victims was able to give police a description of the suspect, his car and the direction he headed after the shootings. Holvin G. Cruz, 32, of Lynn, was stapped on Chelsea Street and arrested on multiple charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to murder.