South End woman's death was murder, police, family say

Boston Police report they are now treating the Dec. 12 death of Shantel Gillespie, 30, in her apartment at the Harris, 390 Harrison Ave. in the South End as a homicide.

Gillespie, who was about to graduate from Laboure College with a nursing degree, leaves three children.

Police initially responded to her fifth floor apartment to check on her well being, only to find her body.

Her sister, Shanakay, writes of the "beautiful soul ripped from this world" on a GoFundMe page:

Shantel was a beautiful soul and was loved by all. She grew up in Mandeville Jamaica and immigrated to the US in 2014. She dedicated the last 5 years of her life to Boston Children’s Hospital as a Clinical Assistant where she cared for patients and families and came home to do the very same for her own. My sister had 1 goal in life: to make a better life for herself so her children would grow up wanting of nothing. From long work hours, to classes and clinical, to coming home to nurture 3 children. Over all the years she worked tirelessly to have a successful future while battling to break the cycle of domestic violence.

This week she completed all coursework and was set to graduate from Laboure College of Healthcare this month with her Degree in Nursing. We cried tears of joy together celebrating a victory well deserved. Today we cry together but tears of sorrow at such a tragedy. She never received her degree, she never walked the stage, she never got to tell her children goodbye. She worked so hard for a future that was ripped away too soon.

Police say:

While we are still awaiting a cause and manner of death determination from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, we have reason to believe that Ms. Gillespie’s death is a homicide. Preliminary information indicates that this was not a random act and that residents of the building and members of the public are not in danger. Investigators continue to gather information and we will release further updates when we can.

Anybody with information can call homicide detectives at 617-343-4470 or contact the anonymous tip line by calling 800-494-TIPS or by texting TIP to CRIME (27463).

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