Six days. That's how long it took for Boston to witness its first homicide of the year, a shooting on Bowdoin Street that was quickly followed by another murder the next night at a take-out Chinese restaurant on Dorchester Avenue.

Both were young black males.

Joseph Clarke, 23, of Dorchester, was shot at the intersection of Norton Street and Bowdoin Street in Sunday's early mornings hours, at about 1:49 a.m. He had been shot in the head. He was sent to Boston Medical Center and pronounced dead.

On Monday night, Darrion Carrington, 18, of Dorchester was found inside the lobby of the Canton House, having been shot multiple times. The restaurant is located at 1728 Dorchester Ave. Police from Area C-11 responded at about 11:40 p.m. to the incident. Carrington died at Boston Medical Center.

A single gunman entered the restaurant and fired on Carrington multiple times, according to police spokesperson Officer James Kenneally, who said that the victim appeared to be specifically targeted.

Carrington, according to published reports, had recently been released from the South Bay House of Corrections after serving a sentence related to a gun possession violation. The Boston Globe reported that Carrington lived with his mother on St. Mark's Road and had been a student at Dorchester High School.

The Carrington homicide took place three blocks from the location of the last homicide along this particular stretch of Dorchester Avenue, in the St. Mark's Area. In November 2005, a young man was shot and killed at the corner of Monsignor Lydon Way and Dorchester. In July 2006, one man was killed and two others injured in a shooting outside the Tara Pub near Ashmont Station.

Boston police said Tuesday night they were still investigating the two homicides.

Police can be reached at 617-343-4470. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the tipline at 1-800-494-8477, or text the word 'TIP' to 27463.

Boston and its surrounding areas saw 66 total homicides in 2007, down from 74 homicides in 2006 and 75 in 2005.