Music-cruise murder victim had escaped death at least twice before; brother gunned down in 2003

The Herald identifies the man found shot to death after a harbor cruise ship docked off Northern Avenue early yesterday as Robert McDaniel, 24.

McDaniel's brother, Joseph, was shot to death in 2003 in Framingham.

The MetroWest Daily News identified both brothers as members of the Kendall Street Thugs, a Framingham-based gang, and says Joseph was a founding member before his death at age 19 - although their mother insists the group was not a gang.

Both brothers were stabbed in a Framingham brawl in 2002; Robert survived being shot several times in 2005.

In October of last year, Ashland Police arrested Robert McDaniel and two other men for possession of a revolver loaded with hollow-point bullets after they were stopped for speeding. However, a judge threw out the gun evidence last month, saying police didn't have probable cause to search the car - in which they said the gun was hidden in a secret compartment.

McDaniel was due in Framingham District Court on Thursday to face a charge of driving with a suspended license.