2ND JP SHOOT VICTIM DIES

Marks 18th homicide in Hub as summer nears

A second man shot late Friday night in the courtyard of a Jamaica Plain public housing complex died from his wounds, marking the city’s 18th homicide as concerns grow over street violence as the mercury rises.

The man in his 20s died after being rushed from the scene outside the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments on Centre Street to Boston Medical Center, police

‘There’s plenty of people out. They need to step up. We don’t need further bloodshed.’ — WILLIAM B. EVANS, police commissioner

said yesterday.

The other shooting victim, a man in his mid-50s, died Friday night.

Police Commissioner William B. Evans called on neighborhood residents to come forward with any information they have about the shooting.

“It’s a warm night. There’s plenty of people out. They need to step up. We don’t need further bloodshed,” he said.

“The first hot Friday night, we put some additional units out across the city and we will keep additional units out tonight. It’s senseless violence.

“We all were praying for a peaceful summer today when we all met.”

Police statistics show the city has seen far more homicides this year than it had last year at this point, but have seen fewer nonfatal shootings.

As of April 29, Boston police reported 16 homicides in 2018, while there were only 10 homicides at the same time last year, according to Boston Police Department data. Nonfatal shootings are down from 51 at April 29 last year to 37 at the same point this year. Police have made 153 firearm arrests as of April 29, down a hair from the 155 gun arrests booked by the same date last year, the data show.

Cops Friday night rushed to the scene of the shooting to find the two men shot and a raucous crowd of about 100 people who turned on police and EMTs, forcing officers to call for backup from across the city in case the situation got out of hand.

Officers yesterday afternoon made two arrests at the apartment complex and recovered a firearm, but a police spokesman said the arrests were not connected to Friday night’s double shooting.

STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS CHRISTO TURNING UP THE HEAT: Police patrol Centre Street at Lamartine Street yesterday, top and above, after a double shooting Friday night outside the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments left two dead.