Brothers Guilty of Murder in Fatal 2016 Shooting

BOSTON, May 25, 2018— Two brothers face life in prison at their sentencing next week after a jury today convicted them for their shared roles in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Allex Bryant in Roxbury, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury deliberated for eight days before today finding DARTANYAN PLEDGER, 26, of Dorchester and NICCOKAWON PLEDGER, 28, of Quincy, guilty of second-degree murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and carrying a loaded firearm for the March 21, 2016, shooting that killed Bryant and injured a second man. The same jury convicted LISA LEWIS, 26, of Quincy, of two counts of being an accessory after the fact of the fatal shootout.

Dartanyan Pledger and Niccokawon Pledger were indicted in September 2016 for first-degree murder. At their sentencing next week, each faces a mandatory term of life in prison with the possibility of parole on their second-degree murder convictions.

During nearly seven days of testimony, Assistant District Attorney Craig Iannini of the DA’s Homicide Unit presented evidence and testimony to prove that on the evening of March 20, 2016, Niccokawon Pledger attended a party at a Humboldt Avenue apartment but left after only 15 minutes. Later that evening, Bryant and another man arrived at the party and remained there until the gathering ended at approximately 3:00 a.m.

Bryant made his way to a vehicle parked on Humboldt Avenue, where he was struck by gunfire as he sat inside, the evidence proved. He was later pronounced dead of a single gunshot wound to the torso.

Following the shooting, a security camera captured Dartanyan Pledger running on Munroe Street and entering a 2006 Nissan Maxima registered to and driven by Lewis, Niccokawon Pledger’s girlfriend. Niccokawon Pledger was captured on camera at the same time as he tossed an object – later found to be a Sig Sauer .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun – into a 2010 Toyota Camry registered to Dartanyan Pledger. He then entered Lewis’ Nissan, the evidence proved.

Cell phone records place both Pledger brothers and Lewis in the area at the time of Bryant’s murder. Call records indicate that Dartanyan Pledger and Niccokawon Pledger were on a 19-minute phone call with one another that ended at 3:06 a.m. – one minute before Boston Police were notified to the gunfire by a ShotSpotter activation at 3:07 a.m.

“Prosecutors and police detectives assembled this case piece by piece until it was strong enough to put to a jury,” Conley said. “That careful early work set the stage for a trial that delivered some measure of justice to Mr. Bryant’s loved ones and removes two dangerous gunmen from the community.”

Assistant District Attorney Amanda Cascione of the DA’s Gang Unit second-seated Iannini at trial. Anite Cetoute is the DA’s assigned victim witness advocate. Dartanyan Pledger is represented by Michael Roitman, Niccokawon Pledger by Christopher Belezos, and Lewis by Seamus O’Kelly. Sentencing before Judge Janet Sanders will take place at 9:00 a.m. May 31 in courtroom 907 of Suffolk Superior Court.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.