Braintree Mall Beefing Up Security Following Fatal Shooting

BRAINTREE, MA — The owner of the South Shore Plaza pledged to improve security at the Braintree mall following a fatal shooting on Jan. 22.

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.

Simon Property Group, the company that owns the mall, vowed to make security changes to try to prevent violent incidents like these from happening. Michael Romstad, an executive for Simon, told the Patriot Ledger the mall will add more armed security guards, a K-9 unit and more modern security cameras.

"Last week's incident is just unacceptable, and I think stopping crime takes a multifaceted approach," Romstad told the Patriot Ledger.

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.

"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 tips@braintreema.gov.