Salem State Student Shot, Killed Two Weeks Before Graduation

SALEM, MA -- Salem State University said it will offer counseling services to students and hold a memorial service later this week for Christopher Joyce, a 23-year-old senior who was shot and killed outside a Jamaica Plain apartment complex Friday night. Also killed Friday was Clayborn Blair, 58, of Boston. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said Sunday that both men were innocent victims in a gang-related shooting.

"The two victims here had nothing to do with gangs," Evans said. No suspects have been arrested in the shooting. Joyce was two weeks away from graduating with a degree in accounting, while Blair was a father of three.

>>>(Read more about the shooting here.)

"There are no words I can express that will ease the pain our campus is feeling. Death is unfair and cruel, taking many, as it did Chris, far too early," Salem State President John Keenan wrote in an email to students, faculty and staff. Keenan went on to describe Joyce as a "deeply engaged" member of the campus community who was active in multicultural and diversity initiatives.

"Chris was well known on campus and had many classmates he called friend," Keenan said.

The shootings took place in a courtyard outside a housing complex near Jackson Square. Both victims were taken to Boston Medical Center.

They were the 17th and 18th homicides of the year in Boston.

Police have not made an arrest and are asking for the public's help as they canvassed the area. Evans said there were a lot of potential witnesses. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the department's homicide unit at 617-343-4470.

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Photo by Salem State University.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).

Mike Carraggi contributed to this report