Family mourns man killed outside American Legion post in Quincy

QUINCY, Mass. — At 44 years old, Christopher McCallum worked long hours as a power engineer to support his wife of 20 years and his three teenage boys.

"The cliche of 'You can’t find a better person, father, whatever,' they all fit him," said his brother-in-law, Bill Doyle.

McCallum, of Bridgewater, died after he was found unconscious and bleeding outside an American Legion Post in Quincy over the weekend.

The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office said in a statement that McCallum was found in the parking lot of the Robert Nickerson Post 382 on Moon Road Sunday after a report of a large fight.

Officials have released few details about the physical altercation that led to McCallum's death, but the DA's office said officers responded around 1 a.m. for a large disturbance. He was taken to a Boston hospital in critical condition and died from his injuries Monday, the DA's office said.

Doyle said McCallum went to watch the 'Charlie Don't Rush' band at the American Legion Post in Quincy over the weekend.

"They had been met with some people that had been kicked out of the place, looking for trouble," Doyle said.

McCallum saw a group of people fighting outside in the parking lot.

"He was looking to help people. That’s what he was doing that night, trying to mediate a fight," Doyle said.

McCallum was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he was put on life support. Hours later, he died.

"From what I can understand, he got punched, fell back and hit his head," Doyle said.

Doyle said, this is not only a devastating loss to the family, but for the community.

"Always out looking to help people. Anyone having problems with the brakes, he will say, don’t bring it to a shop, let’s do it in the driveway," Doyle said.

No one has been charged or arrested in connection with his death but officials are investigating.

A neighbor who heard the commotion that morning told Boston 25 News that the situation did not look good from the start.

"He looked dead to me and they looked like they were attempting CPR and that it wasn't going well," said Christen Schatzel, a neighbor who lives near the Post.

News of McCallum's death is hitting people in the Squantum neighborhood in Quincy hard.

"He's part of the community and it's the community's loss right now," said David Rychalsky, a family friend who said he's known McCallum for most of his life. "Squantum is a very tight community -- a lot of family generations, a lot of roots here -- this is shocking and devastating," he said.

Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office are investigating.

Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at 781-830-4990.

Cox Media Group