Shawn Beauchamp was not the victim of gang violence when he was shot dead on a North End street on the weekend, a source close to the man's family claims. On his way to visit someone, Beauchamp was walking near a relative's home when he was confronted, chased, bear-sprayed and shot at least once early Sunday, the source said.
"It was the wrong place at the wrong time," said the source, who didn't know what sparked the confrontation. No one has been charged. Beauchamp was in a gang but relatives said he was trying to escape the lifestyle, fuelling speculation the shooting may be gang-related. The source said that's not the case.
Beauchamp was chased to St. John's Avenue and Charles Street, where he was shot in the torso, the source said. Residents reported hearing at least three gunshots.
Beauchamp was on statutory release at the time of his death, serving a 40-month sentence for a violent home invasion. The sentence was to expire Jan. 31. It was the final hurdle towards the better life he wanted, the source said. "He would have been free and clear. He had his whole life ahead of him and now he doesn't get that chance," the source said. Beauchamp, the father of a five-year-old girl, got a job unloading newspaper delivery trucks two months ago. His only slip-up while on statutory release occurred when he failed to report to a probation officer in late 2007 and went on the lam for four months, according to National Parole Board documents. Police found him after he was beaten and stabbed by a group of males at a house party in February 2008. He suffered a punctured lung and refused to discuss the incident, believed to be gang-related, documents stated. Beauchamp had been out of prison since October. He was ordered to have no contact with gang members.
A friend and fellow gang member said Beauchamp was currently part of a group called the Bloods, a takeoff of a famed Los Angeles gang. The friend said the local Bloods promote peace and are "not a violent and ruthless" street gang.
"Shawn did want out. He was working (for) it and we were encouraging him," the friend said. "That's what we do. We try to get each other and our families fed and out of a dead-end war-zone before things like this happen." The family source said Beauchamp was previously involved with Native Syndicate and Indian Posse.
"It was the wrong place at the wrong time," said the source, who didn't know what sparked the confrontation. No one has been charged. Beauchamp was in a gang but relatives said he was trying to escape the lifestyle, fuelling speculation the shooting may be gang-related. The source said that's not the case.
Beauchamp was chased to St. John's Avenue and Charles Street, where he was shot in the torso, the source said. Residents reported hearing at least three gunshots.
Beauchamp was on statutory release at the time of his death, serving a 40-month sentence for a violent home invasion. The sentence was to expire Jan. 31. It was the final hurdle towards the better life he wanted, the source said. "He would have been free and clear. He had his whole life ahead of him and now he doesn't get that chance," the source said. Beauchamp, the father of a five-year-old girl, got a job unloading newspaper delivery trucks two months ago. His only slip-up while on statutory release occurred when he failed to report to a probation officer in late 2007 and went on the lam for four months, according to National Parole Board documents. Police found him after he was beaten and stabbed by a group of males at a house party in February 2008. He suffered a punctured lung and refused to discuss the incident, believed to be gang-related, documents stated. Beauchamp had been out of prison since October. He was ordered to have no contact with gang members.
A friend and fellow gang member said Beauchamp was currently part of a group called the Bloods, a takeoff of a famed Los Angeles gang. The friend said the local Bloods promote peace and are "not a violent and ruthless" street gang.
"Shawn did want out. He was working (for) it and we were encouraging him," the friend said. "That's what we do. We try to get each other and our families fed and out of a dead-end war-zone before things like this happen." The family source said Beauchamp was previously involved with Native Syndicate and Indian Posse.
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