Two men charged in the shooting death of an innocent bystander at a 2014 Caribbean street festival in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood have been found guilty of first-degree murder, according to the Suffolk County district attorney's office.
Jurors entered their fourth full day of deliberations Thursday in the trial of Keith Williams, 21, and Wesson Colas, 25. They delivered their verdict Thursday afternoon.
Both men were found guilty of first-degree murder, as well as armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for a non-fatal shooting of a second woman, 20, who was a few blocks away.
Williams was additionally convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors say Williams fired a shot that killed 26-year-old Dawnn Jaffier but was aiming for Colas, who allegedly drew his gun first.
Jaffier, a city youth worker, was shot in the head as a result of the August 2014 confrontation on Blue Hill Avenue.
Jurors toured the crime scene and Jaffier's family and friends testified in court after opening statements.
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Defense lawyers for Williams and Colas had asked a judge to separate the case because the men are rivals but they were tried together.
"I'm grateful to see justice served in the senseless, tragic shooting death of Dawnn Jaffier," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans in a tweet following the verdict. "While there is nothing to say to lessen the pain felt by those who loved her, I hope today's convictions provide for them some small measure of comfort & closure."
Both men face life sentences at a hearing scheduled on Jan. 8.
A third man, Jordan Reed, 25, of Randolph, was charged as an accessory after the fact to Jaffier’s murder for allegedly hiding the gun used in the shootings. However, he died unexpectedly while the case was pending and his death is not considered suspicious.
