Roslindale Man Pleads Guilty to Somerville Murder

More than two years after Keith McCoy, 28, of Somerville was shot to death at the Mystic Housing Development, his accused murderer pleaded guilty Thursday in Middlesex Superior Court and was sentenced to life in prison.

According to the following statement issued Thursday by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone:

Marcus Amos, 23, of Roslindale, pled guilty to second degree murder, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Diane Kottmyer sentenced the defendant to life in prison on the murder charge, 3 to 5 years in state prison to run concurrent on the possession of a firearm charge, and 2 years in jail to run concurrent for the possession of ammunition charge. He will be eligible for parole in 15 years.

“By pleading guilty today, the defendant has admitted his responsibility for the senseless shooting death of a young man,” District Attorney Leone said. “This is another sad example of young people turning to guns and weapons as their preferred way of settling disputes.”  

According to authorities, on Sept. 1, 2008, at approximately 10:02 p.m., Somerville Police responded to the Mystic Housing Development for reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, police discovered McCoy, who was unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was later pronounced dead.  

Somerville Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. Authorities determined that the victim went to an apartment at the housing development to approach an ex-girlfriend.  A surveillance camera on the property depicted the victim, his ex-girlfriend, and the defendant engaged in an at times heated conversation. The video shows the defendant walk away from the victim, remove a gun from the waistband of his pants, and then turn around to shoot the victim who possessed a knife.  

Amos was arrested in Boston on Sept. 2, 2008. He was arraigned later that day in Somerville District Court where Judge Neil Walker ordered him held without bail. He was indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on Oct. 2, 2008 and arraigned on October 23 where Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail.

The prosecutors in this case are Assistant District Attorney Katharine Folger and Assistant District Attorney Deborah Bercovitch. The Victim Witness Advocate is Susan Marshall.