3 Found Guilty in Asiyanna Jones Murder

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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.

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North Adams Man Indicted on Murder, Arson Charges

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Darius Hazard was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder related to deaths of his parents last November. 
 
Hazard, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charges and to a third charge of arson of a dwelling house.
 
He is being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction, where he has been housed since Nov. 25. 
 
Hazard is accused of assaulting his parents, Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76, on Nov. 24, 2025, and setting fire to the family on Francis Street. 
 
The bodies of his parents were discovered in the home by firefighters. 
 
North Adams Police said Hazard allegedly confessed to the assaults and the arson when he was taken into custody that day.
 
Hazard was initially arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 26 and was to appear for a pretrial hearing on March 3. That hearing was postponed but he was indicted March 23 on the felony charges and his case removed to Berkshire Superior Court. 
 
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