Braintree Mayor Calls For More Mall Security After Fatal Shooting

Braintree MA

02 February, 2022

4:56 PM

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BRAINTREE, MA — Mayor Charles Kokoros said he's working with Simon Property Group, the company that owns the South Shore Plaza, to improve security and prevent incidents like the fatal shooting on Jan. 22, from happening again. "The safety of all who come through the doors of the South Shore Plaza is paramount, and we want to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable shopping experience," Kokoros said at Tuesday's Town Council meeting. Dijoun Beasley, 26, of Dorchester, was shopping at the mall, when authorities say Julius Hammond-Desir, 19, of Maynard, shot him. Beasley died at the hospital. Hammond-Desir remains at large, police said. The shooting was the third to happen at the South Shore Plaza in the last five years. Kokoros said he met with Simon executives, their security division in Indianapolis and Braintree Police Chief Mark Dubois last week to discuss security improvements. Simon Property Group vowed to make changes, including adding more armed security guards, more modern security cameras and a K-9 unit. "We were able to agree in principle," Kokoros said. "It's just a matter of putting pen to paper and putting those agreements in writing." Kokoros said he likes many of the mall's proposals, especially replacing antiquated cameras and increasing the overall number of them. "It gives us the ability to identity someone and their pathway if something occurs there," Kokoros said. "If we had those particular things were in place, we wouldn't have had to lock down the neighborhood, knowing the suspect left the area." Kokoros also said the mall agreed to increase the number of Braintree police officers stationed at the South Shore Plaza from two officers and a supervisor to four and a supervisor. Where there was some disagreement was regarding Simon's security team using a K-9 officer at the mall. Mall executives proposed having the dog be under the care of their security team, but the mayor said he'd rather the K-9 be part of the Braintree police force. "They do have a dog they brought in that can be used to detect weapons," Kokoros said. "We would like to see that be something that we have the care, custody and control of. Our officers should be the ones handling any K-9s in any type of situation like that." Details such as these are still being discussed, and Kokoros said he'll update the community again in the coming weeks. South Shore Plaza shooting suspect remains at large Braintree police on Friday issued a murder arrest warrant and said they are looking for Hammond-Desir in connection to the shooting. The warrant for Hammond-Desir was issued less than 24 hours after police arrested Samantha Schwartz, 27, of Attleboro, and charged her with accessory after the fact of a murder. Schwartz was arrested Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charge in Quincy District Court Friday morning. Authorities said Schwartz did not go home in the five days after the shooting, changed location repeatedly, and has a prior history of not showing up to court dates. She is being held on $20,000 bail. Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey and Braintree Police Chief Dubois said Hammond-Desir may have changed his appearance since the shooting. Julius Hammond-Desir, 19, of Maynard, is wanted on a murder charge, the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office said Friday. (Braintree police) "The allegations are that Mr. Hammond-Desir shot an unarmed man to death at close range, so we urge you not to approach him but to call 911 if you see him," Morrissey said. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Braintree police at 781-794-8620 or Massachusetts State Police at 781-830-4990. Tips can also be emailed to [email protected].