Murdered in a gunfight at a baby shower
Boston's first murder victim of the year may have been a caring soul, but he was also packing a gun and died in a gunfight, Suffolk County prosecutors say.
The following is from a statement by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office on Rayon Gillespie, charged in Dorchester District Court today with murdering Joseph Clarke early on Jan. 6:
Assistant District Attorney Mark Hallal told the court that Gillespie had been invited to a baby shower at 58 Norton St. on the night of Jan. 5. Also invited, Hallal said, was the mother of his young child, who had begun a romantic relationship with Clarke.
At about 1:45 on Sunday morning, Hallal said, Clarke arrived at the Norton Street residence and asked to speak with the woman. When she came to the door, he asked her for a ride. She retrieved her car keys and the two began walking away from the house toward Bowdoin Street.
At about the same time, Hallal said, Gillespie began following the two. An altercation ensued in which Clarke is believed to have said, "I didn't come here for trouble."
Evidence suggests that Gillespie retrieved a firearm from his waistband and racked a round into the chamber, prompting Clarke to follow suit. Gillespie raised his weapon, pointed it at Clarke, and fired; Clarke is believed to have returned fire.
Clarke suffered a gunshot wound to the head during the exchange, Hallal said, and fell to the pavement, gun in hand.
Gillespie got into a car and left the scene. He walked into a Boston Police station last night with attorney Rudy Miller and was taken into custody.
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"Boston's first murder
"Boston's first murder victim of the year may have been a caring soul, but he was also packing a gun and died in a gunfight..." Let the Suffolk County prosecutors know that themselves and their families are fortunate that they are not faced with the threats of violence each and every second on the day. Yes he was and his soul is still that of caring, and this is what our society, government, along with law enforcement at all levels has offered our youths for survival.
NOTHING but harassment without empowerment. Institutionalization without education. Degradation and no celebration. What the media does not spend enough time focusing on is that there are many young adults and teens who face life and death, yes, everyday. If this was Iraqi, Kenya, Pakistan, or Croatia, then it the unsympathetic sarcasm would cease to exist.
Not everyone in America can just live there life free from violent threats. If we could only focus on the root causes and not glorify the horrific results, maybe we could ensure all income levels and backgrounds a live free from careless violence.
Murder of Joseph Clarke
I agree with you anonymous. Society is so quick to tarnish the name(s)of people of color. Its so easy to sit idle by and judge others when the truth is we couldn't possible know what it is like to live in a community plagued by violence day in and day out, until that time comes.
Yes, Joe shouldn't have had a gun, but please let us not forget that guns do not kill people. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.
I truly hope that the violence in this country will cease to exist.
Oh, come on, Nova.
A good part of the reason that the violence in this country is so high is because we, as a society and culture, have been totally dependent on the gun, and it's come home to roost, in more ways than one. Also, nova, a gun is designed to maim/kill another human being. To paraphrase the following adage: "An angry person with no gun is just angry. An angry person with a gun shoots his/her neighbor."
Unless ...
That angry person goes to the kitchen and gets a knife.
Oh, God, see what you've made me do? You've made me sound like a gun nut! But come on, five people were sent to the hospital Saturday morning because of violent incidents that didn't involve guns.
In this case, however, it didn't sound as if the knives used
In this case, however, it didn't sound as if the knives used in this conflagration were knives that could be obtained from their mother's kitchens. Also, regarding knives vs. guns as weapons: Sometimes the chances of surviving and/or fully recovering from a knife wound can be and are a little better, depending, of course, on the intensity, area and depth of the stab wound.
someone with such a good
someone with such a good heart shouldn't have died because of another man's stupidity. its very sad and heartbreaking that young men of this era cannot settle a dispute without taking a life of another person basically leaving the victims's family devastated. yeah he should'nt be working around with a gun but that doesn't give the killer a right to take a life that God put into this world. JOe's death is what i called untimely death. R I P.
Get it right
This is pure bullshit...get the story correct
Not a helpful comment
tell us how the story is wrong. If you know a more correct story, tell us that.
he has his own car
joe would not ask her for a ride he has his own damn car. check your story. plz.
You realize, do you not,
You realize, do you not, that this is basically an aggregator and that the post was the Suffolk DA's statement, not something anyone here wrote themselves?
Bull. Why would Joe be
Bull. Why would Joe be asking for a ride when he has his own car? The police are going on pure hearsay, and do NOT have all the facts. So, please, do not slander this young man's name when he is not here to defend himself. Instead of making Joe look like a bad guy, go talk to your kids- your little brothers and sisters about all this unnecessary violence. It's 2008, this shit really needs to stop.
Why ask for a ride when you own a car?
I can think of a whole bunch of reasons -- car broke down or won't start, car buried in snowbank, ran out of gas, inspection sticker expired, driver realizes he's too drunk to drive, etc. etc.
HeartBroken
All I can say is that I am totally disturbed by this.. Out of all people I would have no thought to have looked in the page and see Mr.Joe Joe- May he rest in peace.. Miss ya- Happy Birthday!!