NO BAIL FOR SUSPECT IN YEAR’S FIRST HOMICIDE April 11, 2008 A Suffolk Superior Court clerk-magistrate ordered a 24-year-old Dorchester man held without bail following his indictment last week for the shooting death of Joseph N. Clarke, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. Granting a recommendation by Assistant District Attorney Mark Hallal, Clerk Magistrate Robin Vaughan ordered that RAYON GILLESPIE, a.k.a. RYAN GILLESPIE (D.O.B. 8/28/83) remain held while awaiting trial for second-degree murder and unlawfully carrying a firearm in connection with Clarke’s Jan. 6 homicide. Vaughan further ordered that he return to court on May 20. Hallal told the court that the incident that took Clarke’s life began unfolding on the night of Jan. 5, when he attended a Norton Street baby shower. Also present was a female acquaintance and the defendant, with whom the young woman had once had a romantic relationship. Clarke is said to have left the shower alone but returned sometime just after 1:00 a.m. He had a brief conversation with the young woman, telling her that he was out of gas and needed a ride. Clarke remained outside on the porch as the young woman retrieved her car keys. When she returned to the porch, the two began walking toward Bowdoin Street. At about this time, Hallal said, Gillespie also left the shower and began following them. Hearing his footsteps behind them, they turned. “I didn’t come here for trouble,” Clarke said. Hallal indicated that a verbal altercation ensued. During that altercation, Gillespie allegedly produced a handgun and racked a round into the chamber; Clarke responded by producing a firearm of his own. “Mr. Gillespie raised the firearm and fired multiple times, hitting Mr. Clarke in the body and head,” Hallal said. “Mr. Clarke returned fire at least once before he fell to the ground with the firearm in his hand.” Gillespie allegedly fled the scene; Clarke was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of his injuries. Based on evidence developed by in the course of a fast-breaking investigation, Boston Police homicide detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest. “Boston Police made numerous efforts to locate Mr. Gillespie without success,” Hallal said. “Witnesses indicated that he had begun packing his things, as if preparing to move.” Gillespie later contacted Boston Police through his attorney, Rudolph Miller, and turned himself in on Jan. 10. Return to the Press Releases page.