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Uncle of murder victim says family suffering "piercing pain"

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 8, 2009 05:21 PM

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

The uncle of the Roxbury teen shot to death on his way to school on Thursday said he holds no ill will towards the killer who has left his extended family with a "piercing pain'' that does not end.

Turner's nephew, 15-year-old Soheil Turner, was shot twice in the head as he waited for a Boston public schools bus Thursday around 7:21 a.m. His killer lurked across Dudley street at an MBTA bus stop before walking up to Turner, talking with him briefly and then firing two shots into his head.

Speaking directly to the killer, the victim's 20-year-old uncle, Jamal Turner, said he and his family do not want to see retaliatory violence break out in the city in response to the eighth grader's murder.

"I don't hate you. I don't wish anything on you or your family,'' he said today while standing outside his sister's home on Eustis street in Roxbury, which is located one block from the intersection of Dudley and Adams street where his nephew was murdered. "You did what you wanted to do, and you did a good job at it. It's really hurting us. Me and my family is really hurting, and we miss Soheil.''

He added, "I don't want anything to happen to you.I want you to turn yourself in, but if you don't that's something you have to live with. But no hard feelings at all.''

Turner, who attends Fairfield University in Connecticut, said his sister, Shana, and the boy's father, Soheil T. Wright, are essentially paralyzed by their grief, as is the victim's extended familiy. Sohiel Turner was known among his peers in Orchard Gardens housing development as a teen interested in basketball and girls -- not gangs.

"The pain, it's a piercing pain.'' Jamal Turner said. "They are really hurting.''

Boston police and city streetworkers flooded the neighborhood today but police did not report making any arrests.

Police asked anyone with information to contact the homicide unit at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tips may be made to CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or texting ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).

Jamal Turner said he does not know for certain why his nephew was murdered, but said he feared it could have been an innocent act by Soheil that was misread by the killer.

"The circle you choose to be in, or the people you allow in your circle could be the flaws in your life,'' he said. "Someone seeing you shake someone's hand, or have a conversation with -- someone takes it the wrong way. You are guilty by the wrong association. I believe that's what happened. Or it could have been somebody had a bad day.''

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)