BOSTON, June 4, 2012—A Dorchester man will serve up to 10 years in state prison for shooting a rival after a paternity test showed that the victim was the father of mutual friend’s baby, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Regina Quinlan last week sentenced KAMAL OLIVER (D.O.B. 8/19/63) to a term of eight to 10 years in state prison following Oliver’s guilty plea to the crimes of armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Quinlan additionally ordered him to serve three years of probation upon his release. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Devlin of Conley’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit had recommended no less than 10 years in prison.

“Domestic violence takes many forms, but its hallmarks are domination and control,” Conley said. “In some cases, its perpetrators may use violence directly against their partners. In other cases, as we saw here, they use it against those who challenge the ownership they think they have of those partners.”

Conley urged victims of any crime, including domestic violence, to call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24 hours a day in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages.

Oliver admitted Thursday to firing multiple shots at a 43-year-old Dorchester man who had also been romantically involved with a woman close to Oliver. The Aug. 30, 2010, incident on Lyndhurst Street left the victim with gunshot wounds to his neck, clavicle, chest, stomach, elbow, and legs, requiring about six weeks of hospitalization.

Had the case proceeded to trial, Devlin would have introduced evidence and testimony to show that the victim and defendant first met earlier in the summer of 2010 when they were asked to take a paternity test in connection with a child first thought to be Oliver’s. The test showed that, in fact, the victim was the father.

The evidence would have shown that Oliver showed up unannounced and uninvited at the victim’s home at about 9:00 on the night of the incident. The victim allowed him in and the two men spoke briefly, arguing for a short time but ending the conversation cordially.

Evidence would have shown that, as he was leaving, Oliver produced a handgun and began shooting the victim. The victim collapsed and Oliver stood over him, continuing to fire. The victim was shot six times before Oliver fled the scene without saying another word.

Boston Police responded to the scene moments later and obtained an identification of the assailant as “Wally” Oliver, the name by which the victim knew him. Using that name as a starting point, detectives were soon able to identify Oliver and make their way to his residence. While one group of officers asked for Oliver after knocking on his front door, a second group apprehended him as he fled the building in his underwear.

Oliver was represented by attorney Asha White.

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