On a Tuesday evening in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the life of Lemond Grady, a 39-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically cut short. On April 20, 2021, gunshots echoed on North Street, prompting multiple 911 calls and a ShotSpotter activation at approximately 6:18 p.m. When police arrived at the scene in front of the Family Dollar at 631 North Street, they found Grady with gunshot wounds.
He was rushed by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Originally from Lake County, Florida, Lemond Grady had moved to Pittsfield as a young man. He was a father of three and was known by those who loved him as a happy and giving person with a "heart of gold," despite his joking claims of living the "thug life." He worked as a laborer for local construction companies and was a talented woodworker, often the go-to person in his family for repairs. In the years leading up to his death, he had found comfort in the Muslim faith. Although he had built a life in the Berkshires, he missed Florida and the ocean.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Pittsfield Police, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, launched an investigation. A description of the suspect, who had fled the scene on foot, was quickly obtained by patrol units. This led to the swift arrest of 34-year-old Edward Jennings, also of Pittsfield, on the nearby Lincoln Street. Jennings was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Lemond Grady.
The investigation continued for hours, with the sidewalk in front of the Family Dollar cordoned off until around 10 p.m. that evening. The Berkshire District Attorney, Andrea Harrington, was present at the scene. Edward Jennings was scheduled for arraignment in Central Berkshire District Court the morning after the incident. Following the initial charges, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office secured an indictment against Jennings for the murder of Lemond Grady, with his arraignment in Berkshire Superior Court set for August 5, 2021.
