Guilty Verdicts Returned in 2018 Homicide

BOSTON, March 16, 2022— A Suffolk County jury today convicted two Boston men of first-degree murder and weapons charges in the 2018 shooting death of Deondra Lee, who was watching July 4th fireworks with his family in Dorchester when he was hit with bullets.

The sentencing of MICHAEL CARLETON and TRAVIS PHILLIPS will take place tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Suffolk Superior Court room 906.  Both men face sentences of life without possibility of parole. 

Deondra Lee’s wife, who was pregnant with twins at the time of her husband’s death, is expected to deliver a victim impact statement.  Other family members are expected to deliver statement as well.

“It’s difficult to comprehend the anguish of Deondra Lee’s family after such a tragic, horrific loss.  I’m thankful for the verdict and I commend all involved in this case, particularly the victim’s family members as they had to endure reliving those terrible moments,” District Attorney Hayden said. 

On the night of July 4, 2018, Lee and his wife were watching a firework display near the corner of Dacia and Brookford streets in Dorchester. They were attending a cookout hosted by a neighbor and walked down the street for a better view. Carlton drove directly behind where Lee and his wife were sitting, and Phillips fired several shots from point-blank range. Lee was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

Natives of Alabama and Georgia, respectively, Lee and his wife chose to raise their young family in Dorchester. They have four children, two of whom are twins born shortly after Lee's death. Assistant District Attorneys Craig Iannini and Alexandra Rahimi described him as a hard worker who had built a productive life in Boston.

 James Borghesani, Chief of Communications

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.