3 Found Guilty in Asiyanna Jones Murder

05:50PM / Thursday, December 15, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three people have been convicted on charges related to the 2017 murder of Asiyanna Jones.

After a week and a half trial in Berkshire Superior Court, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Gary Linen, Carey Pilot, and Elizabeth Perez for the Oct. 2, 2017, shooting on Dewey Avenue.

The jury found Linen guilty of murder, Pilot of manslaughter, and Perez for misleading police in the homicide investigation. Judge John Agostini scheduled sentencing for Wednesday.

"I send my condolences to Ms. Jones' family and friends for their tragic loss and hope these convictions give them some satisfaction. I thank the jurors for their careful deliberation of the facts," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "I also thank Special Prosecutor [Brett] Vottero, the lead prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Yorlano, who assisted, and First Assistant Karen Bell, who oversaw their work on the case.

"Attorney Vottero has handled more than 75 other homicides during his two decades of service to the commonwealth, and his

expertise was key to securing these convictions."

Pilot, 50, and Linen, 42, engaged in a gunfight on Dewey Avenue on Oct. 2, 2017, and a bullet struck Jones, 22, who was inside a car. Jones died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield the following day.

Perez, 30, lied to police during the investigation.

The Pittsfield Police Department, with assistance from the state police detective unit assigned to the District Attorney's Office, Berkshire County Sheriff's Department, the Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force, State Police Crime Scene Services, and State Police Firearms Identification Section conducted the investigation.

Tags: murder,

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Another West Nile Virus Mosquito Found in Pittsfield

Staff reports02:11PM / Friday, August 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed another West Nile virus-infected mosquito sample in the city.

On Friday, Pittsfield announced there was an isolation on outer West Street near Lillybrook Road. Last week, two isolations of WNV were found at the Pittsfield-Richmond town line on Route 41 and the other at Garland Avenue.

There are currently no confirmed human cases of WNV, but residents are encouraged to take preventative actions. According to a risk map provided by the MDPH, Pittsfield is now at moderate risk for WNV.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

Berkshire County had early virus activity; Clarksburg saw the state's first WNV mosquitoes of the season in June. Pittsfield had a positive WNV sample later that month in a spot with repeated occurrences near the Pittsfield Cemetery.

Pittsfield, through the Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project, continues larvicide application, conducting targeted education programs, distribution of fact sheets on WNV and on reducing exposure to mosquitoes, and treating catch basins.

In 2021, the former City Council voted to opt out of adult mosquito control spraying.

Earlier this month, Chris Horton, superintendent of the mosquito project, told the Board of Health that he doesn't envision the WNV positives amplifying, and the peak transmission weeks are at the end of August and early September.