On December 4, two individuals received life sentences for the murder of Kenny Lamour, a 21-year-old member of a Roca snow-shoveling crew who was killed in Jamaica Plain in 2015.
Following their conviction last week in Suffolk Superior Court, Donte Henley, 27, and Josiah Zachery, 21, were found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with Lamour’s fatal shooting.
Judge Peter Lauriat imposed life sentences with eligibility for parole after a minimum of 20 years for each defendant. In addition to the murder conviction, Zachery faced separate guilty verdicts for unlawful possession of a firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon, resulting in an ordered four to five year sentence to follow completion of his murder term.
During the trial, Assistant District Attorneys Ian Polumbaum and Nicholas Brandt presented evidence establishing that both Henley and Lamour worked on a snow-shoveling crew organized by the Chelsea-based non-profit Roca on February 11, 2015.
Despite being known to the agency as members of opposing gangs, both men assured a Roca supervisor they could work together without conflict.
Text message records revealed that Henley orchestrated the killing through communications with Zachery, expressing anger toward Lamour and instructing Zachery to bring a firearm to the Jamaica Plain worksite. Henley subsequently provided Zachery with Lamour’s physical description and whereabouts.
At approximately 10:35 a.m., Zachery found Lamour on Centre Street and fired at him, striking him in the head.
Zachery then fled on foot while being chased by a Boston Police officer. Evidence showed that Zachery aimed his weapon at the officer and fired once during his escape. The officer was unharmed, and Boston Police apprehended Zachery shortly after on Centre Street. According to prosecutors, he was holding a shovel but wore sneakers instead of snow boots and had no gloves. Police identified a nearby resident who confirmed that a shovel matching the one Zachery carried had been reported stolen.
James Budreau served as Henley’s defense attorney while Robert Wheeler represented Zachery. Elise McConnell was assigned as the victim-witness advocate for the District Attorney’s office.