Tony Harris Sentenced to Life in Prison After being Convicted of Murder of Kevin Raymond
SOMERVILLE – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police Charles Femino have announced that Tony Dyshaun Harris, 34, of Everett was sentenced today after he was convicted of murder and being an armed career criminal in connection with the 2017 murder of Kevin Raymond, 20, of Somerville.
On June 6, 2023, a Middlesex Superior Court jury found Harris guilty of murder, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license and carrying a loaded firearm without a license. During a subsequent bench trial on July 27, Judge Cathleen Campbell found Harris guilty of being an armed career criminal, based on 2007 convictions for armed assault to murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. Today, Judge Campbell sentenced Harris to life with the possibility of parole at 25 years on the charge of murder and five years to five years and one day concurrent with the murder and each other on the armed career criminal charges.
“We will not allow this kind of gun violence to go unchecked in Middlesex County. As Harris’s conviction on all of these charges illustrates, we have an unswerving commitment to prosecuting these cases. We will pursue every avenue to hold those defendants, such as Harris, who repeatedly engage in violence and threaten the safety of others, fully accountable,” said District Attorney Ryan.
At approximately 3:40 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2017, the Somerville Police received 911 calls reporting gun shots in the area of Jacques Street. Officers responded and determined that the location of the gunshots was in the parking lot behind 20 Canal Lane, which is part of a housing development operated by the Somerville Housing Authority. In the parking lot police found a revolver and a gold chain, which were later determined to have Mr. Harris’ DNA on them. The investigation revealed that Raymond had been shot in that parking lot and then transported to CHA Hospital. He had sustained three gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital.
Following Raymond’s murder, investigators located multiple videos capturing Harris driving a vehicle that matched the suspect vehicle in and around the area of the murder both before and after the shooting. Investigators also were able to locate a video of Harris wearing a gold chain that matched a gold chain that was found in the parking lot behind 20 Canal Lane. Both that chain and a revolver found in that parking lot were later determined to bear the Harris’ DNA. Additionally, Raymond’s blood was found in the vehicle Harris was driving that night.
He was arrested on November 3, 2017.
This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, Somerville Police, Massachusetts State Police, Cambridge Police, Boston Police, Everett Police, Medford Police and Medway Police. The prosecutors assigned to this case are Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Allain and Ashlee Mastrangelo. The Victim Witness Advocate is Joanne Szeto.