William S. O'Sullivan - The Mullin-Killeen War

The Mullin-Killeen War

In February 1971, Buddy Roache, a close associate of McGonagle told Whitey Bulger and O'Sullivan that he was going to murder Donald Killeen, and if they interfered, he would kill them. A violent argument followed, Roache drew his weapon and O'Sullivan shot him. Roache was hospitalized but survived the near fatal gunshot wound. Following the shooting, both Bulger, O'Sullivan, and neighborhood boss Donald Killeen expected retribution for the attack on a ranking member of the rival Mullen Gang. This fear proved well-founded and the rivalry between the Mullens and Killeens exploded into a gangland war.

According to longtime Bulger confidant Kevin Weeks, Bulger's murder of Paul McGonagle's brother led directly to the Mullin Gang's assassination of his mentor. According to Weeks,

"One day while the gang war was still going on, Jimmy was driving down Seventh Street in South Boston when he saw Paulie driving toward him. Jimmy pulled up beside him, window to window, nose to nose, and called his name. As Paulie looked over, Jimmy shot him right between the eyes. Only at that moment, just as he pulled the trigger, Jimmy realized it wasn't Paulie. It was Donald, the most likable of the McGonagle brothers, the only one who wasn't involved in anything. Jimmy drove straight to Billy O'Sullivan's house on Savin Hill Avenue and told Billy O, who was at the stove cooking, 'I shot the wrong one. I shot Donald.' Billy looked up from the stove and said, 'Don't worry about it. He wasn't healthy anyway. He smoked. He would have gotten lung cancer. How do you want your pork chops?'"