Paul Mullen, a 37-year-old White male, found his life tragically cut short on the cold morning of December 2, 2005, in Brockton, Massachusetts. A dedicated father, fiancé, son, and friend, Mullen was known for a sense of humor and a smile that could light up any room. He had a passion for golf, enjoyed cooking, and cherished time spent fishing with his sons.
His unexpected and violent death left a void in the lives of his loved ones, including his fiancée of nine years, their young son, his older son, and his fiancée's son whom he was helping to raise.
The events leading to his death began to unfold after Mullen and an acquaintance, Thomas A. Woods, left a nightclub and made plans to meet later to smoke marijuana. Their friendship had become strained due to a significant debt Mullen owed Woods. On several occasions, an upset Woods had told others he would shoot Mullen if the debt wasn't repaid. Following their departure from the club, Woods drove to a local Hess gas station, a common late-night gathering spot. When Mullen called to find out his location, Woods told him to come to the station.
Upon Mullen's arrival, Woods instructed him to get into the driver's seat of his car to roll a marijuana "blunt" while Woods went inside the convenience store. As Woods made idle conversation with the cashier, two masked men approached his vehicle. One of the men opened fire, shooting Mullen eight times and killing him. After the shooting, Woods returned to his car, moved Mullen's body to the ground, and drove to his girlfriend's house. Later, he was seen speaking with a man who matched the description of the shooter.
In the ensuing investigation, Thomas Woods was interviewed by police and testified before a grand jury. In October 2006, he was indicted for murder in the first degree. A jury found Woods guilty, concluding that he had orchestrated the killing as part of a joint venture. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for his role in the death of Paul Mullen.
