For Immediate Release September 29, 2008                                     
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Two Men Convicted Of First Degree Murder In Connection With Somerville Shooting

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office informed the public today that two men were found guilty of first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Bernard Johnson, 22, of Worcester.

Valentino Facey, 23, of Cambridge, and Walter Norris, 22, of Dorchester, were found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury of first degree murder and possession of a firearm without an FID card.  Facey was also found guilty of attempting to commit an armed robbery and Norris was found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Sentencing will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Woburn Superior Courtroom 430 before Judge Diane Kottmyer.

“We want to thank the jury for their thoughtful consideration over five days,” District Attorney Leone said. “In the end, they returned a just verdict on behalf of Bernard Johnson and his family and friends. This was another example of senseless gun violence in which the victim was confronted by a group of men and violently gunned down in front of his fiance. No verdict can make up for the loss of this young victim, but it does hold the defendants accountable for their violent actions.”

According to authorities, the victim and his fiance were at a small gathering at an apartment on Linden Street in Somerville prior to the shooting.  When the victim and his fiance left the gathering, they were confronted by Facey, who had left the gathering just moments prior to the victim.  Facey and Johnson became involved in a physical altercation during which Facey attempted to steal a gold chain from Johnson at gunpoint. 

During the course of the attempted robbery by Facey, Norris emerged from the apartment where the gathering was held carrying a firearm.  Several other men also emerged from the apartment to the scene of the altercation.  Norris then shot Johnson several times.   Facey, Norris, and the other men then fled from the scene.  Facey was located and apprehended by police a short time later. 

On August 30, 2006, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) conducted its autopsy on Johnson.  The ME found the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds, and ruled the death a homicide.  Facey was arraigned in Somerville District Court before Judge Maurice Flynn that same day. He was charged at that time with armed robbery and being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm. Facey pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail 

On October, 30, 2006, Facey was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury and charged with attempting to commit a crime.  He was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on November 13, 2006.  At arraignment he pled not guilty and was ordered held on $50,000 bail. 

Norris was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm on January 25, 2007.  Norris was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on January 27, 2007, and ordered held without bail.

The trial team was led by Assistant District Attorney Joseph Gentile and included Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain, paralegal Patrick Demers, and victim witness advocates Daniela Bianco and Helena Clarke. The case was investigated by State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Somerville Police.

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