Police: Shooting Victim 'Had a History'

Despite a seeming uptick in crime in recent weeks, police say the fatal shooting in Hyde Square Sunday night was not random.

William B. Jones, community service officer at the E-13 Boston police district, said the victim in Sunday’s shooting had a criminal history.

“The person is from our community. The person has ties to our community, and the person also had ties to some other elements in our community that we've had issues with on a regular basis," he said at District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley’s annual town hall meeting Monday night.

The victim, who has not been identified, died of a gunshot wound to the chest in a Minden Street shooting, according to several media reports at the time of the incident.

There has been a rash of criminal activity in Jamaica Plain, most notably beginning with armed holdups on Eliot Street on consecutive nights Feb. 27 and Feb. 28.

Police quickly arrested a man who had allegedly robbed Mt. Washington Bank in the 2 o’clock hour Monday. Jones said the man, who has not been identified, was 62-years-old and “not in very good shape.”

There were house break-ins reported on Boylston Street in March, and Jones told the crowd Monday that a man attempted to rob a convenience store at 162 South St. last week.

A member of the community at the meeting said earlier Monday afternoon, a man dressed in an official looking uniform with a name tag knocked at a door at her residence’s back porch. She said she was suspicious of the man’s intention, but wasn’t sure whether to call the police or not. Jones said in those cases, err on the side of caution by calling.

“We want people to trust those hairs that go up on the back of your neck,” he said. “Don’t allow yourself to be guilted into making an excuse as to why you don’t call.”

Jones said police posted fliers in the area of Sunday night's shooting seeking information on a suspect. He added police patrols are typically assigned on a rotating schedule and based on man power, but police will tend to patrol areas where crime is spiking.