Mass. Man sentenced to life for murder in Braintree in 2022

A judge sentenced a Massachusetts man convicted in the 2022 shooting and murder of another man to life in prison, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey's office said.

Julius Hammond-Desir was found guilty by a Norfolk Superior Court jury of first-degree murder, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm and unlawfully carrying a firearm, Morrissey's office said in a statement.

On Thursday, Hammond-Desir was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, Morrissey's office said.

Hammond-Desir and Dijoun Beasley met at a Forever 21 store in South Shore Plaza in Braintree on Jan. 22, 2022, the statement said. The two had a brief exchange in the store before Beasley was shot in the head. Surveillance footage showed Hammond-Desir running away with what appeared to be a gun in his waistband.

Beasley was taken to Boston Medical Center and died of his injuries the next day.

Morrissey called the encounter “shocking and incomprehensible” and hopes Beasley's friends and family can “find some comfort” with the verdict.