Life Sentence Imposed in Asiyanna Jones Murder

03:15PM / Wednesday, December 21, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Gary Linen, 42, has been sentenced to life in state prison in the murder of Asiyanna Jones.

Lengthy state prison sentences were handed down by Judge John Agostini on Wednesday for those responsible for the death of of the 22-year-old Jones.

In addition to Linen, Carey Pilot was sentenced to serve 15 to 20 years in state prison for manslaughter, and Elizabeth Perez to serve two to four years in state prison for misleading a police officer in the homicide investigation.

The commonwealth had requested sentences of the statutorily required life in prison for Linen, 18 to 20 years in prison for Pilot, and a significant state prison sentence for misleading a police officer during a homicide investigation for Perez. Defense attorneys requested life for Linen, four to six years for Pilot, and a two-and-a-half-year split sentence at the House of Correction for Perez.

Last week, a jury returned the guilty verdicts in the Oct. 2, 2017, shooting death. Pilot, 50, and Linen, 42, engaged in a gunfight on Dewey Avenue in Pittsfield on that evening and a bullet struck Jones, who was inside a car. Perez, 30, lied to police during the investigation.

"I thank Asiyanna Jones' family for their powerful victim witness statements they delivered in court today and I am proud of the trial team for their meticulous work in obtaining these convictions," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.

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

Tags: murder,

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Pittsfield Eyes OPM for Crosby/Conte, Seeks Funds for PHS

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
01:43PM / Monday, March 09, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to hire an owner's project manager for the Crosby/Conte proposal this week and pursue additional school construction funds from the MSBA.

The School Building Needs Commission last week voted to move forward with a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority seeking funds to renovate Pittsfield High School.

Interim Superintendent Latifah Philips reported that the MSBA's core program statement of interest filing period is open until April 17, if the commission would like to consider it for renovations to PHS. According to MSBA's website, the core program is intended for new construction, addition, and/or renovation projects.

Members recognized that it is a tight schedule to put together an SOI, but agreed it is best to try.

Pittsfield is seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the MSBA to rebuild and consolidate John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.

The MSBA has invited the district to a feasibility study phase, and a selection committee is working to bring forward applicants for an owner's project manager. This hired consultant oversees a construction or design project in the owner's interest.

Owner's project manager proposals were due on Feb. 18, and Pittsfield received nine proposals. Last Monday, the OPM search committee finalized three selections for public interviews, which were to be held on Friday at City Hall; the selection package is due to the MSBA by March 11.

During last week's School Committee meeting, Phillips said the district is on track to submit for consideration on April 6.