Pittsfield man pleads guilty in manslaughter case
Jan 17, 2025
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A Pittsfield resident pled guilty for his involvement in a 2022 shooting that left one person dead and a second injured.
Laquan M. Johnson, age 29, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and seven other charges connected to the April 4, 2022 killing of Stephan Curley and the shooting of Dominique Satrape.
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According to investigators, on that date at 4:22 p.m., police were called to the area of 71 King Street after a ShotSpotter activation detected five gunshots. Police were also called to Berkshire Medical Center, where the two gunshot victims drove themselves.
Police investigated the surrounding area and spoke with Meilani Eurquhart, Laquan Johnson’s sister. She admitted to hearing shots and was found by police to be holding several spent shell casings. When police entered the home they found another casing in the hallway and Johnson freshly showered in an apartment, allegedly washing away any gun residue.
A gun, matching the one used to shoot Curley and Satrape, was found inside the residence in a safe belonging to Johnson.
During the trial Johnson admitted to the shooting, claiming self-defense. Prosecutors say just 16 seconds between video evidence shows Curley driving up to the residence and shots fired, showing that Johnson fired shots towards both victims.
Johnson was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison, above sentencing guidelines that recommend 9 to 13.5 years. The plea took place before the results of a jury verdict from a trial that began on January 8th.
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