BOSTON — Boston’s new mayor and police commissioner are dealing with a spike in violent crime that has resulted in nine homicides in the city already this year.

Three people were killed last weekend, including a man and a woman found shot outside a Mattapan home. No names were made public.

Boston had a 13-year-low of 40 homicides in 2013.

Authorities say most of the recent slayings appear to be gang-related and retaliatory in nature.

Mayor Martin Walsh, who took office about three weeks ago, said he is gathering together police and civic leaders to address the crime wave and figure out ways to get guns off the street.

Walsh said in a statement that the city cannot become complacent.

Crime experts and community leaders say frigid temperatures usually stem violence.

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