In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, May 29, 2016, a Memorial Day weekend party at a sprawling Lynnfield, Massachusetts mansion took a fatal turn, ending the life of 33-year-old Keivan Heath, a Black / African American male from Randolph. The event, advertised on social media as the "Splash Mansion Pool Party," was held at a multi-million dollar home on Needham Road that had been rented online for what the owner believed was a small college reunion.
Instead, anywhere from 60 to over 100 people attended the lively gathering.
Heath, a father of two young sons, was a guest at the party. Around 3 a.m., an altercation reportedly broke out, and in the ensuing chaos, someone produced a gun and fired shots. Heath was struck twice in the chest. As police were called to the scene, they were met with a flood of vehicles and partygoers fleeing on foot, some of whom were uncooperative with the arriving officers. Heath was discovered alone and unresponsive near the pool. He was rushed to Lynn Union Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In the wake of the shooting, an investigation was launched by the Essex County District Attorney's office, Massachusetts State Police, and Lynnfield Police. Despite the large number of witnesses present at the party, investigators were met with a wall of silence. Many who fled the scene did not come forward with information. The police made public pleas for attendees to provide any details that could lead to the killer.
To date, the murder of Keivan Heath remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made in connection with his death, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case is a painful open wound for his family, including his two sons, who were just 13 years and one year old at the time of their father's death. His mother and cousin remembered him as a beloved and excellent father who was liked instantly by those he met. The fatal shooting prompted the town of Lynnfield to ban short-term property rentals.
