Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Press Release from Suffolk County District Attorney's Office; Dudley MBTA deadly shooting


Second Defendant Guilty in 2013 Murder

 

BOSTON, April 21, 2015—The second of two men who took part in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Courtney Jackson at the Dudley MBTA station has been found guilty of murder, Suffolk County District attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted JAMEL BANNISTER (D.O.B. 10/7/90) of Dorchester of second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.  The jury acquitted him of charges of possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance and possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance in a school zone. 

Bannister’s co-defendant, BRIAN COOPER (D.O.B. 1/19/88) of Mattapan, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder earlier this month.  Both had been indicted for first-degree murder.

Assistant District Attorney David Fredette presented evidence and testimony to prove that at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2013, Bannister accompanied Cooper to the Dudley MBTA station, where they became involved in a verbal altercation with Jackson.  Footage from MBTA public safety cameras at the station showed Cooper pulling out a firearm and shooting Jackson twice as the victim, who had recently gotten off of one bus, turned to board another. 

The footage also depicts Bannister pulling something from his pocket at that same time that Cooper produced a firearm; additional video footage shows him holding something to his side as he fled.

Two Boston Police officers working a detail nearby heard the gunshots and rushed to the area to see the two men running from the scene.  Cooper surrendered to officers and was found to be in possession of a firearm.

Bannister continued to flee from officers and was taken into custody in the area of Madison Park Court.  A .45 semiautomatic firearm was found tossed over a fence along his path of flight.

Bannister returns to court at 9:30 tomorrow morning for sentencing before Judge Richard Welch.  Cooper faces sentencing May 5.

Timothy Munzert was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Bannister was represented by John Tardif.
 
tpdnews.