South Shore Plaza Shooter Sentenced 5 To 6 Years: DA

BRAINTREE, MA — A Quincy man accused of firing several gunshots at the South Shore Plaza in February 2017 was sentenced Tuesday to five-to-six years in state prison and three years of probation. Michael Spence, 26, pleaded guilty to armed assault to murder, attempted assault and battery with a firearm, second offense carrying a firearm without a license and affray Sept. 10 in Norfolk County Superior Court. Prosecutors dropped a charge of carrying a loaded firearm without a license.

Spence and his attorneys moved to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial, but Judge Robert Cosgrove denied the request.

Just before 7 p.m. February 3, 2017, Braintree police were flooded with 911 calls reporting gunshots fired inside the Macy's department store at the mall. Police arrived to a chaotic scene of hundreds of shoppers evacuating the mall, according to a statment from the Norfolk County District Attorney's office.

Police said the shooting was an isolated incident between Spence and a member of a rival Boston gang. After the shooting, both Spence and the other gang member escaped, but Spence was later arrested by Braintree police the following day. No injuries were reported during the shooting.

Police said they were able to identify Spence with the help of witnesses and mall security footage. He was tracked down quickly because he was wearing a GPS monitor from a previous gun charge conviction, police said.