Brockton Man Killed Lover To Hide Gay Relationship: Prosecutor

BROCKTON, MA — Prosecutors believe that a man's motivation in a murder was to keep his gay relationship a secret.

On Nov. 12, Kian Willis, 21, of Brockton, shot and killed Patrick Sequeira-Ferreira, 27, of Brockton, on Keith Avenue, according to police. Sequeira-Ferreira was shot three times and was rushed to Boston Medical Center, but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Willis was arraigned in Brockton District Court Wednesday afternoon.

District Attorney Jessica Kenny told the court that Willis sent text messages asking Sequeira-Ferreira to come outside on the night of the shooting, the Brockton Enterprise reported. Willis was the last person to have contacted the victim before his death.

When police interviewed Willis, he was concerned that people would find out about his relationship with Sequeira-Ferreira, police said. According to Kenny, Willis was afraid of losing his job, given that both him and the victim worked together at the Office of Community Corrections, which is part of the state's corrections department, where relationships with co-workers are forbidden. Willis's family was not fully aware he was gay, according to Kenny.

Willis has pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance is Jan. 2 for a probable cause hearing.

More more on this story, check out the Brockton Enterprise

Photo via Brockton Police Department