Teen Killed In JP Shooting Called A Mentor On And Off The Football Field

JAMAICA PLAIN (CBS) –A teenager who was shot and killed in Jamaica Plain was a volunteer in the community and understood the importance of being involved in positive activities to stay on the right path, according to his high school football coach.

Family identified the 16-year-old boy as Gerrod Brown.

Boston Police were called to Parker Street near the Heath Street development around 11:45 on Tuesday night and found Brown suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Brigham and Women's Hospital where he died.

Brown was a bystander and got caught up in a fight that led to gunshots, police said.

"To see him lose his life to the street violence in Boston is beyond sad," said Domingos DaRosa, who coached Brown for the past two years at Brighton High School.

"And when I heard it, it hits home because like I said, this kid means a lot to me."

DaRosa said Brown was a star on and off the field.

"He was there mentoring the younger kids, and getting them to play the sport, and getting them to understand the importance of being apart of a positive versus a negative," he said.

"It looks like there was some type of altercation here between two groups, shots rang out and now we're trying to put together the pieces. Didn't get a whole lot of cooperation. There was a lot of people out here, so we need the public to step up here," Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans told reporters early Wednesday.

"A tragedy. We have a young individual deceased here. And we need the public to step up and help us here. We can't have this happen in our city," he added.

DaRosa said, "We would love to have him back, but that's the reality: we can't have him back. So what are we going to do as a community to keep the young folks, who are going to be our leaders, safe?"

Anyone with information is urged to call Boston Police at (617) 343-4470 or 1-800-494-TIPS.

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• Mike LaCrosse