Pittsfield, Massachusetts — Heartbreak has struck the Pittsfield community as family, friends, and classmates mourn the tragic loss of 17-year-old Brodie Slonski, a Taconic High School senior, who was fatally shot Sunday evening in the city’s Morningside neighborhood.
According to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, police responded to reports of a crash around 6:15 p.m. near 17 Parker Street. When officers arrived, they found a white Honda HR-V that had struck a tree, with Brodie unresponsive behind the wheel. Firefighters quickly removed him from the vehicle and discovered that he had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators believe the vehicle had been traveling down Franco Terrace, a quiet residential road not meant for through traffic, before colliding with the tree. Brodie was the only person in the car, and police have not yet identified any suspects or motive. The case is being investigated as a homicide.
Brodie’s passing has left a deep void in the hearts of those who knew him. A talented and hardworking student, he was enrolled in Taconic High School’s metal fabrication program and had dreams of pursuing that trade after graduation. His grandmother, Linda Marie Slonski, and aunt, Jennifer Wojtkowski, described him as a kind, respectful, and family-oriented young man who loved his family dearly.
“He always held his family in high regard,” Wojtkowski said. “He was a good kid. He was a good kid.”
Brodie was well known for his positive attitude and dedication, both in and out of school. He previously played on Taconic’s golf and bowling teams and was proud to be part of the group recognized by Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti for winning the 2024 Massachusetts State High School Division II Bowling Championship. Recently, he had been working at Subway, where he had been promised a manager position upon turning 18 — a reflection of his responsibility and drive.
Neighbors reported hearing a gunshot followed by a loud crash around the time of the incident. Emergency services arrived within minutes and remained on scene for hours, collecting evidence and asking residents to check their home surveillance cameras.
The tragic death of Brodie Slonski has shaken Pittsfield to its core. A bright, hardworking young man with a promising future, his loss is being felt by his family, classmates, teachers, and the entire community.
May Brodie’s memory live on in the hearts of those who loved him, and may justice be served for this senseless act of violence.