Guilty Verdict in Coveney Murder Trial

A West Roxbury man was found guilty today, Sept. 21, by a Middlesex Superior Court Jury of killing Adam Coveney two years ago "in cold blood" after he tricked the 29-year-old Waltham man to meet him for a proposed drug deal that was a ruse to rob and murder him.

Daniel Louis, 23, who was sentence by Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman to life in a state prison without the possibility of parole, "showed a complete disregard for another person’s life in committing this act of senseless violence, said Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone after the sentence was handed down.

“This defendant shot to death in cold blood, while conspiring with three others who agreed to set up the victim for a drug deal in which they intended to shoot and kill the victim,” Leone said.

"The defendant has now been held accountable for his actions and our thoughts remain with Adam’s family and loved ones," he said.

Louis also received four to five years for the attempted armed robbery and two to three years for the possession of a firearm.

Benjamin Peirce, 19, and Shaquan Jacobs, 20, both of Newton, were also charged in connection with the Sept. 30, 2010 murder. Peirce and Jacobs’ next court date is September 28. 

Wallace Duarte, 20, of Waltham, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. His next court appearance will follow the other co-defendants’.

According to the Middlesex District Attorney, at approximately 11:05 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2010, Waltham Police received a report of possible shots fired at 879 Lexington St. Officers arrived and discovered Coveney suffering from a gunshot wound. Coveney was pronounced dead at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Coveney targeted for robbery, murder

The investigation revealed that the defendants allegedly initially attempted to rob a Newton North High School student who they knew well and specifically targeted before the murder. It is alleged that the four defendants traveled with a firearm from Boston to the student’s house and attempted to break in, but failed.  

After this failed attempt, it is alleged that Peirce then began planning a second robbery by arranging to meet the victim in Waltham for the purpose of obtaining drugs and, eight hours prior to the murder bought masks, gloves, and bleach. The three defendants then allegedly traveled to Boston to meet Louis for the purpose of acquiring a gun prior to the murder.

It is alleged that when Peirce, Jacobs and Louis met the victim for the purposes of buying drugs from him, Jacobs and Louis jumped out from a hiding place and began to beat the victim, and Louis then shot him.

Before fleeing the area, Louis is alleged to have laughed about shooting the victim and Peirce is alleged to have picked up the drugs the victim had in his possession as the victim lay dying on the ground. The three defendants are then alleged to have left the scene in a car driven by Duarte with a female companion.

Peirce was arrested on Oct. 1 and arraigned in Waltham District Court where he was ordered held without bail. Jacobs, Louis and Duarte were arrested later that day.

The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the case were Elisha Willis and Michael Kaneb. The Victim Witness Advocate was Lesia Schymonowytsch and the paralegal was Erika-Lee Willey.  

The case was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Waltham Police.