Worcester jury convicts man of first-degree murder in 2021 double homicide — courtroom

Christopher Burns found guilty in the fatal shooting of two Worcester brothers outside a former Grafton Street motel.

WORCESTER, Mass. — A Worcester Superior Court jury has convicted Christopher Burns of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of two brothers in Worcester in 2021, prosecutors announced.

The verdict was returned Tuesday following a trial stemming from the deaths of 27-year-old Marcus A. Thibodeau and 35-year-old James M. Johnson. The brothers were shot and killed on Dec. 8, 2021, outside the former Diamond Inn on Grafton Street.

Burns was arrested and arraigned in Worcester District Court on April 13, 2022, where he was ordered held without bail. A Worcester County grand jury later indicted him on Sept. 29, 2022.

“This verdict is the result of years of dedicated work by the investigators and prosecutors committed to seeking justice for the victims and their family,” Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said in a statement.

Early also thanked members of the Worcester Police Department, Assistant District Attorneys Timothy Westerman and Michael Travers, and Victim Witness Advocate Maria Deyette for their work on the case.

Burns is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

Key Points

Christopher Burns was convicted of first-degree murder in Worcester Superior Court.
The case involved the Dec. 8, 2021, shooting deaths of brothers Marcus A. Thibodeau and James M. Johnson.
Sentencing has been scheduled for a future date.

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

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