A longtime Lecompton resident and jeweler found dead Friday night at his home was killed, police said Monday.

The victim is Clarence David Boose, 77, former owner and operator of David’s Jewelers in Topeka.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigators weren’t talking about details of the crime scene, the cause of death or suspects. Detectives remained at Boose’s home Monday evening.

An acquaintance of Boose’s notified the sheriff’s office of the death about 10:20 p.m. Friday after finding him inside his rural, ranch-style home at 194 North 2190 Road. A coroner ruled the death a homicide after an autopsy Saturday, but police didn’t report the case as a homicide until Monday afternoon.

Neighbor Kathy Paslay said she spoke with some of Boose’s family members Monday and got the sense that police were asking them not to discuss what they knew of the crime.

“Nobody’s really talking,” she said.

Paslay said Boose had heart problems and diabetes. She said he liked to restore old cars and used to play violin or guitar at local nursing homes.

“He was a super nice guy. I don’t think he had an enemy in the world,” Paslay said. “It’s just disgusting that somebody would harm him.”

Paslay said she’d been told Boose’s girlfriend was the person who found him.

Dick Wingfield, another neighbor, said Boose had lived in the home for decades.

The Douglas County Emergency Management Mobile Command vehicle sits in front of the home and outbuildings of longtime Lecompton resident Clarence David Boose, who was found dead over the weekend. Police said Monday they were investigating his death as a homicide.

“He was, I’d say, one of the nicest neighbors I’ve ever had,” Wingfield said. “He knew a lot about woodworking, so I’d go down and ask advice when I’d run into problems. … He helped me with some carving projects.”

Wingfield said the last time he saw Boose was April 26, when he went to deliver a lawnmower Boose had bought from his son.

Another neighbor, Jay Lohmann, also spoke highly of Boose, a man he said he’d known for 12 years.

“You could drive by and he’d be out in his garden and he’d come over and chat with you,” Lohmann said. “He was a personable fellow, a real gentleman.”

Lohmann also said he wished there were more sheriff’s officers to watch that area of the county. Yet Lohmann, who also works and has another home in Topeka, said he felt safer in Douglas County than in Topeka.

“It’s an extremely big task for Douglas County to patrol (the area),” Lohmann said.

The sheriff’s office Monday asked anyone with information about the death to call the office at 832-5201 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers hot line at 843-TIPS (8477).