Cops overlooked second dead man Body discovered 2 1⁄2 days after other victim

Cops overlooked second dead man
Body discovered 2 1⁄2 days after other victim
By Marie Szaniszlo  |   Sunday, November 14, 2010  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage

Boston police detectives are seen Tuesday on Mascot Street in Dorchester after a body was found near a garage.
Photo by Mark Garfinkel

Boston police are investigating why the body of a teenager lay undiscovered for 2 1⁄2 days after another was found across the street.

The body of 19-year-old Nervin Charlot of Boston was found at 11 a.m. Tuesday behind an abandoned house at 63 Mascot St. in Mattapan by a workman painting an adjacent building, Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said.

Almost 60 hours earlier, police had responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 64 Mascot St. and found 17-year-old Emmanuel Loissaint, also of Boston, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

“We’re certainly troubled by that,” Davis said of the lapse in time. “We believe finding that body is something we should have done.”

When officers discovered Loissaint at about 1 a.m. Sunday, their investigation focused on 64 Mascot St. and the direction in which witnesses told them the assailants had fled, the commissioner said.

Police also were working in a “difficult environment.”

“It was not easy to see,” Davis said.

In addition to the darkness, investigators had to contend with rain and wind-blown leaves, he said, although Charlot’s body was not covered in leaves when it was eventually found.

Police believe the two shootings are linked for several reasons, including their proximity.

“They did know each other and were affiliated with the same gang,” Davis said. “And it was a similar caliber gun.”

Loissaint died Sunday of a single gunshot wound to the chest at Boston Medical Center, police said.

Charlot’s body was found in the yard of the house across the street and was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that he had been shot in the chest, police said.

Davis urged anyone with information about the shootings to contact the homicide unit at 617-343-4470.

“We believe there are individuals with information about these shootings,” he said.

People who wish to remain anonymous can call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 800-494-TIPS, or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1296164