DEDHAM – A Maynard man convicted of fatally shooting a Dorchester man at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.
On Thursday, a Norfolk Superior Court judge in Dedham sentenced 21-year-old Julius Hammond-Desir to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
A jury found Hammond-Desir guilty of first-degree murder on Tuesday, October 22, for killing Dijoun Beasley on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at the Forever 21 store on the Plaza.
During the sentencing hearing on October 24, prosecutors asked that Hammond-Desir receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. In addition, they asked Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp to allow two related weapons charges, each with a term of 2.5 years, to run consecutively after the 30-year period.
Hammond-Desir was 19 at the time of the shooting, and Krupp cited lower impulse control in what he called emerging adults, along with the suspect’s unlawful upbringing when deciding to impose the lower parole. He also supported defense attorney Mark Wester’s request to have the two weapons charges run concurrently with the murder charge.
He will begin serving his sentence on October 30.
More: ‘The brains of emerging adults are not yet fully developed’: SJC further limits life without parole
A shooting in a busy shopping center
In a report filed with the court, state police said video surveillance shows Hammond-Desir and Beasley talking briefly at the entrance to Forever 21 just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. The video then shows Hammond-Desir taking off his shirt lifts up and shoots Beasley in the head, authorities said.
Hammond-Desir was wanted by police for nearly four weeks before he was arrested in Dorchester by officers from Braintree, Boston and state police.
See our previous reporting on this case
February 16, 2022: Man accused in South Shore Plaza shooting, charged with murder, held without bail
February 4, 2022: South Shore Plaza and Braintree are working on a security agreement for the shopping center
January 31, 2022: South Shore Plaza owner says mall is getting a K-9 unit and more cameras in response to shooting
January 31, 2022: Opinion: It was supposed to be a carefree shopping day. Until the shooting started.
January 28, 2022: Prosecutor: Woman helped hide murder suspect in mall; authorities name alleged shooter
January 27, 2022: Woman held on $20,000 bail in fatal shooting at South Shore Plaza; investigation is ongoing
January 26, 2022: ‘South Shore Plaza must go a step further’: Braintree mayor wants more safety
January 24, 2022: DA: 26-year-old man shot at South Shore Plaza has died, police still searching for shooter
January 22, 2022: ‘It has to stop’: Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros calls shopping center shooting ‘unacceptable’
This article originally appeared in The Patriot Ledger: South Shore Plaza shooter convicted
