The car of State Assemblyman William Boyd, Jr., was shot at early last night in Brownsville as he was driving with his seven-year-old son. Neither the embattled four-term legislator or the boy were hurt, and police are investigating what they say appears to be "a random shooting." Not that Boyland doesn't have a few people mad at him.
Earlier this year Boyland, a Democrat who represents the 55th Assembly District in Brooklyn, was indicted in a bribery and corruption scandal. In addition, he appears to have spent much of the past year not doing his job and instead playing CityVille on Facebook and earlier this month neighbors of a slain 13-year-old girl were upset with his behavior at her memorial ("William Boyland drove by here and beeped his horn and drove off," they said. "That was a disrespect to the community.").
Yesterday's shooting occurred a little after 6 p.m. while Boyland was returning from a barber shop. Near the intersection of Saratoga and Sutter Avenues he heard several shots ring out, and called the cops. According to the police, only later did the 40-year-old lawmaker realize that his 2009 GMC had been hit as well. The back window had been shattered and investigators found a bullet lodged in one of the front seats.
Boyland, who has a long family history in politics—he holds the same seat his father held for 20 years, his uncle is also in the State Assembly and his sister was on the City Council—has not yet responded to a request for a comment.
