In the summer of 2015, the life of 18-year-old Keenan S. Pellot Jr., a Black / African American male from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was tragically cut short. On the afternoon of July 31st, Pellot was shot outside of Chewy's Barber Shop on Tyler Street in Pittsfield. He was rushed to Berkshire Medical Center, just a few blocks away, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Another individual, a 17-year-old male, was also shot and seriously wounded in the incident but was expected to survive.
The shooting, which occurred in broad daylight, prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by local and state police. Authorities quickly identified a suspect, 18-year-old Thomas Lee Newman Jr., also of Pittsfield, and an arrest warrant was issued. Newman was described as an acquaintance of Pellot. The search for Newman extended beyond Massachusetts, and he was apprehended in Utica, New York, a few days after the shooting. He was taken into custody by Utica Police and federal officials following reports that a person matching his description had been seen in the area.
Following his arrest, Newman was extradited to Massachusetts to face charges. He was charged with murder, armed assault with intent to murder, and illegal possession of a firearm. In July 2017, Thomas Lee Newman Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Keenan Pellot Jr. He also pleaded guilty to the armed assault charge for the wounding of the second victim and the firearm charge. A judge sentenced him to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 18 years. The resolution of the case brought a measure of closure to a violent episode that had shaken the Pittsfield community.
