BHA threatens eviction after two slain near party

As Boston police probe whether there is a link between a raucous party Thursday at a housing project and a double slaying nearby, a Boston Housing Authority official threatened to evict any tenant who helped organize the bash.

"We'll let the police conduct their investigation, but if it turns out that someone who lived at [the Franklin Hill housing development] was behind the party, we may move towards eviction," Bill McGonagle , BHA deputy director, said yesterday. "It's a violation of their lease."

McGonagle said tenants who want to hold large parties must first get approval from management and the development's tenants' association. That did not happen before Thursday's event, he said.

Jeffrey Jones , 41 and Jarrid Campbell , 27, were killed at about 11:15 p.m. while sitting in a car parked on Shandon Road. The slayings occurred about 100 yards from the party, which was on a basketball court in the development. No arrests have been made, police said.

Both victims had visited the party, where there was beer and other alcoholic beverages, witnesses said. There were several arguments, but none resulted in fights. A stereo system blared the raps of local artists who competed against one another on a stage in the middle of the court.

Yesterday morning, the area was quiet and peaceful. Several children played at a large playground and chased one another around a circular grassy area.

Dot Joyce , spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino , said the mayor realizes the importance of letting tenants of such housing developments enjoy their surroundings, but said there are limits.

"We want people to have a good time and enjoy themselves as if they had their own home," Joyce said. "The mayor doesn't want to make developments unlivable. But we would want to know beforehand, absolutely, for the safety of those who attend and for the safety of others."

Joyce noted that following several acts of violence that occurred outside house parties in Dorchester -- including the deadly shootings of a 14-year-old youth on Jan. 1 and a 22-year-old woman in March -- police launched a "Party Line" in April to allow residents to report loud parties without tying up 911 lines .

By the end of March, police had logged about 80 calls . The number of calls logged since then was unavailable yesterday, but Elaine Driscoll , spokeswoman for the Boston Police Department, said the number has been steady.

Yesterday, several BHA properties held their annual Unity Day celebrations, which include cookouts and other events for tenants.

"Certainly, what happened at Franklin Hill was a tragedy, and the party, that event clearly was not authorized," McGonagle said. "It's not reflective of what goes on at our developments." He said a diverse and peaceful crowd of about 150 people gathered yesterday at the Old Colony development.

McKinley Sykes , 60, who lives in a second-floor apartment overlooking the basketball court at Franklin Hill, said, "They should tear it down, and if people ask what are the kids going to do, well, there's a Boys and Girls club a short walk from here."

Jan Goldstein, a spokeswoman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, said the Dorchester club, at the intersection of Talbot and Blue Hill avenues , recently underwent a major renovation and has extended its hours on weekends.

"The clubs offer dances and parties and a place for teens to hang out on Friday and Saturday nights," Goldstein said. "A director at the club recently said he noticed rival gang members in the club playing basketball side by side."