Two more in custody in connection with Centre Street homicide

On May 30 and on June 4 Boston Police took two more suspects into custody in connection with the May 21 shooting on Centre Street that killed Dashawn Davis, 24, of Jamaica Plain and injured another man. 

On Saturday, May 30 officers assigned to the Boston Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit (BPD Fugitive Unit) arrested Devonne McDonald-Jones, 23, of Roslindale, after executing an arrest warrant in the area of 43 Granfield Avenue in Roslindale. 

At the time of his arrest, Jones was wanted on an outstanding warrant sought out of West Roxbury District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (3rd and Subsequent Offense), Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Loaded Firearm and Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Dwelling. 

The warrant on Jones was granted in connection to an ongoing investigation into the May homicide of Davis at 267 Centre St. 

According to police, during the incident Jones was allegedly observed discharging a firearm before fleeing the area on foot. 

Jones was arraigned in Roxbury District Court. 

Then on Thursday, June 4, 2020, Rushon Hemingway, 23, of Springfield, was taken into custody at District E-13 after turning himself into members of the BPD Fugitive Unit. 

Hemingway was aware that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant for Murder stemming from the killing of Davisin the area of 267 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.  

Hemingway was arraigned in Roxbury District Court. 

The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. on Thursday May 21 when officers assigned to District E-13 and District B-2 in Roxbury responded to a call for shot spotter activation in the area of 267 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. 

Officers located two adult male victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment. One of the victims, later identified as Davis, was suffering life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced. 

The second victim was treated for injuries which are considered non-life threatening in nature.

While arriving on scene, officers observed a male suspect, later identified as Clifford Jones, 43, of Randolph, walking in the area of 287 Centre Street with the handle of a firearm visibly protruding from his left pants pocket. 

Upon seeing the officers, the suspect immediately discarded a firearm, which was later recovered, and took off running through the housing development. While in pursuit of the suspect, an individual, later identified as Tyron Blair-Battiste, 37, of Jamaica Plain, intentionally attempted to trip the officer. He was later placed in custody for his actions. 

When one of the officers was finally able to catch up with Clifford Jones, a violent struggle ensued. While struggling on the ground, the suspect attempted to pass a second handgun to a female who was standing nearby. The officer was able to maintain control of the suspect until such time that additional officers arrived on scene and the suspect was placed in custody. Officers then recovered a third firearm from the suspect’s right pants pocket.  

Simultaneously, another officer responding to the foot pursuit observed a different suspect, later identified as Hemingway, walking away from the scene while attempting to conceal a firearm in the waistband area of his pants.

Clifford Jones was  charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (3 Counts), Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device (3 Counts) and Resisting Arrest.

Tyron Blair-Battiste was charged with Interfering with a Police Officer and Disorderly Conduct.

The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident and is asking anyone with information relative to this investigation to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470.  

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to assist this investigation in an anonymous manner.  

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