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Medford Man Found Guilty Of 2013 Murder

Posted on: February 5, 2016 - 11:28am

WOBURN – Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Jessie Williams, 26, of Medford, was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the 2013 shooting death of 27-year-old Joseph Puopolo today. The jury also found the defendant guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, armed assault in a dwelling, and possession of a firearm without a license.

Judge Lawrence Pierce will sentence Williams on Thursday, March 10 at 2:00 p.m. in Middlesex Superior Court.

“Joseph Puopolo was a young man whose life was cut short because the defendant and his associate Eugene Tate turned an illegal drug deal into a violent and ultimately deadly altercation,” stated District Attorney Ryan. “Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Joseph Puopolo with today’s guilty verdict.”

Stoneham Chief of Police James McIntyre added, “I would like to thank the jury that returned a guilty verdict in this case. Williams and Tate are being held accountable for their violent actions that took the life of Mr. Puopolo.  The professionalism of the police officers, detectives and assistant district attorneys in both of these cases allowed the juries to reach their decision.”

At 12:19 a.m. on July 3, 2013, Stoneham Police responded to reports of gunshots on Micah’s Pond Way in Stoneham. When officers arrived they found two males suffering from gunshot wounds. One of those men, Joseph Puopolo, had gunshot wounds to the chest and wrist. He was transported to Leahy Clinic where he was pronounced dead.  The second victim survived a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Puopolo had been invited to the Micah’s Pond Way home where a drug deal had been scheduled by the second victim. When Williams and Tate arrived, they drew hand guns and demanded drugs and money before shooting the victims.

This case was investigated by the Stoneham Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

The prosecutors in this case were Assistant District Attorney Tom O’Reilly and Assistant District Attorney Doug Nagengast. The Victim Witness Advocate was Beth Lane.