Jeric Terrall Black, a 39-year-old Black/African American man, was fatally shot in his home at 181 King Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on the night of February 1, 2022. The incident prompted a response from the Pittsfield Police Department after they received a report of shots fired at approximately 11:39 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers found that Black had sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
He was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of Jeric Black led authorities to identify Michael Rose as the primary suspect. According to the investigation, Rose was driven to Black's residence by a woman named Shirley Gaylord with the intention of confronting him. A family member, who was present at the home, let Rose inside. Shortly after he entered the residence, the family member heard a gunshot and witnessed Rose fleeing the scene. In the days following the shooting, Gaylord came forward and provided crucial information to the police. She detailed her role in driving Rose to and from the King Street residence and the timeline of events on the night of the murder, including dropping him off on View Street after the shooting.
In October 2025, a Berkshire Superior Court jury found Michael Rose guilty of murder in the second degree for the shooting death of Jeric Black. He was also convicted of possession of a firearm without an FID card. Following the conviction, Rose was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison for the murder charge. He received a concurrent sentence of two and a half to five years for the firearm possession charge. The conviction was described by the District Attorney as delivering justice for Jeric Black and was attributed to the work of the Pittsfield Police, the courage of a key witness, and the strength of Black's family.
