Cops, kin seek witnesses in slay

Cops, kin seek witnesses in slay

By Colneth Smiley Jr. | Sunday, September 26, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

Photo by Christopher Evans

Boston police and the family of a Virgin Islands native who was the city’s latest homicide victim are pleading to the public for help in solving the crime.
Relatives say Curtis Jarvis, 21, a trucker who lived on St. Thomas, came to Boston in August for a family reunion. He planned to extend his visit to go to trucking school to earn a U.S. license, but was gunned down around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 by an unknown assailant in Dorcester.
Jarvis was the 50th person killed in Boston this year. Last year, there were 39 victims at this time.
“There has been a lack of cooperation on this investigation,” said Elaine Driscoll, BPD spokeswoman. “The victim was not known to the police, and investigators are asking anyone with any information to please come forward.”
“I want to see justice,” the victim’s mother, Charmaine Van Holten, told the Herald. “My son didn’t even get to live his life. I’m just so sad. I hope someone can just come out and say something.”
According to the BPD, Jarvis and another unnamed 21-year-old male victimwere found on Cameron Street suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were transported to Boston Medical Center, where Jarvis was pronounced and the other victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Jarvis’ aunt, Barbara King, said her nephew was applying to truck-driving school to earn his trucker’s license so he could return and work for his father, who owns a St. Thomas trucking company.
“He went for a ride to drop his older sister off at work, and then the guy he was riding with went to (visit) another friend, and all of a sudden, someone walked up to them and started shooting,” King said.
Jarvis’ sister, who requested anonymity, said she had told her brother to go home, “but he laughed and said he’d be OK. That’s what I remember last - him laughing.”
A funeral service was held for Jarvis, who has nine siblings, on Thursday in Roxbury. Tomorrow, Jarvis’ body will be flown to St. Thomas for burial.
“It’s hard losing my son,” said Van Holten. “Whoever saw this happen, think about if it was your son, or your brother, or your cousin or close friend. Feel my pain.”
Boston Police Department urges anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tipsters can dial 1-800-494-TIPS or text a tip to CRIME(27463).
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1284298