Crime & Safety

Newton Man Pleads Guilty in Waltham Murder Trial

Shaquan Jacobs, 20, changed his plea in Middlesex Superior Court on Oct. 2.

A Newton man was sentenced to life in prison on Oct. 2 after admitting to his role in the 2010 shooting death of 29-year-old Adam Coveney, of Waltham.

Shaquan Jacobs, 20, pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court today to charges of second degree murder and attempted armed robbery. Jacobs changed his plea today from not guilty to guilty. 

Coveney's family was present in the courtroom for today's hearing and sentencing.

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"I miss my brother Adam so much that sometimes it takes my breath away," Lindsey Coveney, Adam's sister told the court. "he was first friend and my big brother."

Jacobs is a 2010 graduate of Newton North High School. He was sentenced to prison at MCI Cedar Junction in Walpole. 

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“This defendant, showing a complete disregard for another person’s life in committing this act of senseless violence, conspired with three others to rob the victim, who was shot and killed during the commission of the robbery,” said Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone said. 

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Fellow Newton resident, 19-year-old Benjamin Peirce, is also charged in connection with the shooting. He is due back in court on Oct. 12 for a pretrial conference. 

A third co-defendant, Roxbury resident Daniel Louis, 23, was sentenced to life in prison last month after a Middlesex Superior Court jury found him guilty of killing Coveney "in cold blood."

Officials allege that Peirce and Jacobs met up with Louis on Sept. 30, 2010 and attempted to rob a Newton North student they knew well. When that failed, they met up with Coveney to purchase drugs and allegedly brought a gun along with masks, gloves and bleach.

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.

Prosecutors allege that Peirce, Jacobs and Louis left in a car driven by Newton resident Wallace Duarte, who was charged with being an accessory after the fact.

In addition to his life sentence, Jacobs also received four to five years in prison (concurrent) for the attempted armed robbery that was planned earlier in the evening. 

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.


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