BOSTON, June 1, 2018— The former school employee convicted of shooting a student in the head will spend more than two decades in prison following his conviction at trial, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury yesterday convicted SHAUN O. HARRISON, 58, of armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance, and several firearm offenses. At Harrison’s sentencing today, Judge Christopher Muse imposed a term of 23 to 26 years in state prison followed by five years of probation.

“The defendant earned every day of this sentence,” Conley said.

During the course of Harrison’s trial, Assistant District Attorneys David Bradley and Kevin McCarthy presented evidence and testimony to prove that Harrison used his position as an employee at English High School to recruit a then-17-year-old student to sell marijuana.

Harrison became dissatisfied with the victim’s marijuana sales and, on March 3, 2015, arranged for the victim to be assaulted at school. He then texted the victim and arranged to meet near Harrison’s Pompeii Street apartment that evening. The two walked together to the area of Magazine Street, where a surveillance camera captured Harrison shoot the victim in the back of the head.

The victim collapsed after being shot but was able to stand and flag down a passing vehicle to help him. He was rushed to Boston Medical Center and survived his injuries.

He identified Harrison – a man he knew as “Rev” – as the shooter.

Boston Police detectives executed a search warrant at Harrison’s apartment and an onsite storage unit and located firearms, ammunition, and clothing matching that worn by the shooter. That clothing tested positive for gunshot residue.

The victim’s aunt spoke in court before Harrison’s sentence was imposed, describing the betrayal by a trusted adult who presented himself as a mentor and pastor.

“You hear about gun violence almost every day and we turn a blind eye. It never really affects you until someone you love has fallen victim,” she said. “You can only imagine how I felt when I
learned this had been done by someone he trusted. Someone society knew as a dean, a counselor, a pastor. We send our children to school in hope they are inspired to learn more, to do better, to be better. To reach for the stars and then some, because not even the sky is the limit when there are foot prints on the moon… Shaun Harrison almost took that opportunity away from this wonderful young man. Key word ‘almost.’”

Jennifer Sears was the DA’s assigned victim witness advocate. Harrison was represented by Bruce Carroll.

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