Brockton man charged in fatal Dot shooting
Attorney: Victim killed after dispute over grill
A confrontation over a barbecue grill turned fatal Tuesday night in Dorchester, leaving one man dead and the suspect — who prosecutors say has a lengthy criminal history that includes firearm charges — behind bars.
Shakeem McNeill, 28, of Brockton pleaded not guilty to a murder charge Wednesday in Dorchester District Court. He was ordered held without bail and is due back in court on June 18, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant District Attorney Julie Higgins said the altercation that led to the death of 43-year-old Carl Brown began over a grill in the front yard of a multiunit building on Millet Street, where the victim and suspect both lived.
According to Higgins, Brown saw McNeill grilling in the front yard and asked his wife whether she had given McNeill permission to do so. She had not, so Brown went back outside to speak with McNeill. The confrontation escalated from there, with McNeill’s girlfriend allegedly punching the victim before he was shot, according to the police report.
“The defendant had a gun in his hand. The defendant made statements along the lines of, ‘Is this how you want to play?’ And then, in front of his wife, Carl Brown was shot by the defendant four times,” Higgins said.
Police responded to the area of Millet Street at about 8:42 p.m., where they said they found a man lying on the ground suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was taken to Boston Medical Center, and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Police tracked McNeill to the Super 8 Hotel in Brockton, where he was arrested at about 3 a.m.
During his arraignment Wednesday, Higgins said McNeill had five adult convictions and numerous defaults. Among them, Higgins said, is a probation warrant for an armed robbery out of Plymouth Superior Court with firearm and assault charges. Higgins also mentioned prior drug charges — some of which she said had been dismissed.
Tuesday’s shooting in Dorchester marks the 14th homicide in Boston this year.
In response, City Councilor Michelle Wu tweeted, “The trauma ripples through the entire community. We must do more to coordinate resources & support community members working to interrupt violence & spread peace.”
Police officers traded off watches outside the Millet Street building on Wednesday, though the neighborhood was otherwise calm, with children milling about and neighbors gardening or walking dogs.