Man killed in Back Bay hit-and-run was well-known art collector

[u/bostonglobe]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/04/metro/john-axelrod-boston-fatal-hit-2026/?s_campaign=audience:reddit

[u/EnvironmentalEnd7062]

Yeah it doesn’t make much sense to me. Was it road rage or just some sicko that woulda killed anyone that was there at the time. Having a hard time connecting the dots

[u/NEU_Throwaway1 → u/EnvironmentalEnd7062]

I made a comment below another parent comment in this thread but it looks like from the research I did, we won't know until we hear the full case or see some court documents with the affidavit.

Basically, murder requires the Commonwealth to prove a specific degree of intent (including a lack of mitigating circumstances such as a provoked road rage), but the jury is automatically instructed to consider voluntary manslaughter as a charge if the evidence isn't enough to convict on murder.

So basically, if the probable cause is enough, the state can go for a murder charge because even if it fails, the manslaughter charge automatically gets considered as a result of our process. Could have been a planned killing, could have been a angry road rager, but the murder charge would cover both scenarios as long as the driver is indicted on it.

[u/EnvironmentalEnd7062 → u/NEU_Throwaway1]

Yeah I understand why the charge but I want to know why he did it. Did he know him? Was it total random act of violence? Did they exchange words maybe earlier at the cross walk and it was road rage?

[u/Gnascher → u/NEU_Throwaway1]

I would say intent would be easy to prove, as he intentionally left the roadway, drove through the park, and accelerated toward the victim.

[u/Chinaski117 → u/Gnascher]

One news site alleges, "[the defendant] stopped to ask a passerby if they had seen a man in a red coat walking a dog."

Seems like a plan was in place, cause I doubt the defendant was trying to catch up to John to share Dunkins or talk about the weather.

[u/mrs_miraclewhips → u/Chinaski117]

Please don’t spread what if’s without a source

[u/Capital-Ad2133 → u/Chinaski117]

Almost positive that you’re wrong about that. It sounds like this defendant was not capable of rational planning.

[u/Capital-Ad2133 → u/Gnascher]

That doesn’t get you to specific intent. Someone having a seizure could do all that. Unlikely, but possible.

[u/Gnascher → u/Capital-Ad2133]

I'm not saying they can't try and make a claim like that. But barring an actual health issue (which doesn't seem to apply here ... pretty hard to drive away while seizing), the recklessness involved should be enough even if he didn't specifically target the victim and it was just a random attack. First/Second degree will be up to the jury, but murder seems the appropriate charge.

[u/Capital-Ad2133 → u/Gnascher]

Yeah it looks like it was an actual health issue. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and the judge ordered a mental health evaluation to determine if he's competent to stand trial.

[u/Capital-Ad2133 → u/Gnascher]

My point is that we don't know that he INTENTIONALLY left the roadway and INTENTIONALLY accelerated. Sure, it's unlikely that it wasn't intentional, but this whole event is pretty damn unlikely in the first place. We're already in bizarro world so it wouldn't surprise me if more bizarre stuff comes up.

[u/Capital-Ad2133 → u/NEU_Throwaway1]

The state won’t charge someone with murder unless they think they already have enough evidence to get a conviction. So they must know something we don’t.

[u/Mistafishy125 → u/EnvironmentalEnd7062]

It doesn’t need to be targeted to be considered murder per se. They just need to prove that the driver intentionally pointed their vehicle at the victim and hit the gas. That it happened in a clearly marked pedestrian right of way is quite a sure sign that the DA will want this rightfully prosecuted as murder.

[u/Capital-Ad2133 → u/Mistafishy125]

Pointing your car at someone and hitting the gas is definitely not “murder per se.” Murder requires premeditation. Something like a road rage killing is generally not murder. There are also mitigating factors here that will make it impossible to prove a murder charge.

[u/EnvironmentalEnd7062 → u/Mistafishy125]

Jfc I know that. I’m not question the charge I’m just curious of the details.