Sept. 29, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul Jarvey (508) 368-7241
WORCESTER — A Worcester Superior Court jury today found Dinkue Brown guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of Luis R. Rodriguez in Fitchburg, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Mr. Brown, 30, of 33 Adams St., Fitchburg, devised a plan to have a colleague rob Mr. Rodriguez on June 21, 2013 in Mr. Rodriguez’s apartment at 82 Marshall St. The colleague, Dax Gibson, shot and killed Mr. Rodriguez during the robbery
Mr. Rodriguez ran from the apartment and was found bleeding on a neighbor’s porch a short time later. He was taken to Leominster Hospital and was pronounced dead.
A Superior Court jury found Mr. Gibson guilty of first-degree murder in February and the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole was imposed.
Mr. Brown also faces the mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Judge David Ricciardone scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14.
Mr. Brown, who fled to Richmond, Indiana, where he was arrested about a month after the slaying, was also found guilty of home invasion, armed assault in a dwelling, armed assault to rob and firearm charges. He was found not guilty of kidnapping and threatening to commit a crime.
“I’m proud of the work our prosecution team of Michael McHugh, John Sares and Susan Oftring did on this case,” Mr. Early said. “When you see the devastation this murder has brought to his loved ones, it validates the work we put in to bring justice to the family. I want to thank the jury for the hard work they put in on this case. This wasn’t easy.”
Mr. Early also praised the State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and Fitchburg Police for their investigation, Indiana State Police for apprehending Mr. Brown, Richmond, Va., Police for capturing Mr. Gibson and the U.S. Marshals who were involved in the arrest of both men.