A former administrator at English High School was recently convicted of shooting a student in the head and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison on June 1, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s (DA) Office.
According to the DA’s Office, a jury convicted Shaun 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. Judge Christopher Muse sentenced Harrison to 23 to 26 years in state prison followed by five years of probation.
“The defendant earned every day of this sentence,” DA Dan Conley said in a statement.
The DA’s Office presented a case during trial that Harrison used his position as an employee at English High School to recruit a then-17-year-old student to sell marijuana.
According to the DA’s Office, Harrison became dissatisfied with the victim’s marijuana sales and arranged for the victim to be assaulted at school in March of 2015. According to the DA’s Office, he then texted the victim and arranged to meet near Harrison’s apartment that evening. According to the DA’s Office, a surveillance camera captured Harrison shoot the victim in the back of the head while the two walked near Magazine Street.
According to the DA’s Office, after being shot, the victim collapsed, but was able to stand and flag down a passing vehicle to help him. He was rushed a hospital and survived his injuries, later identifying Harrison as the shooter.
According to the DA’s Office, Boston Police detectives executed a search warrant at Harrison’s apartment and an onsite storage unit. They found firearms, ammunition, and clothing that matched the shooter’s in the surveillance video. The clothing was tested for gunshot residue and came back positive.
The victim’s aunt spoke in court before Harrison’s sentence.
“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, according to the DA’s Office. “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.’”