Man convicted of murdering Worcester brothers in ‘case of mistaken identity’
Christopher Burns, 42, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2021 killings of Marcus Thibodeau, 27, and James Johnson, 35, outside the former Diamond Inn on Grafton Street in Worcester—acts prosecutors said stemmed from a case of mistaken i
When Christopher Burns walked into a Worcester night in December 2021, prosecutors said he carried the wrong target with him—then pulled the trigger outside the former Diamond Inn on Grafton Street.
On Tuesday, Burns, 42, was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder tied to the deaths of Marcus Thibodeau, 27, and James Johnson, 35, in 2021, according to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors characterized the shootings as “a case of mistaken identity.”
The DA’s office said that on Dec. 8, 2021, Burns fatally shot Thibodeau and Johnson outside the former Diamond Inn on Grafton Street in Worcester.
The legal case moved quickly after that. In April 2022, Burns was charged, arraigned, and ordered held without bail in Worcester District Court, prosecutors said. A Worcester County grand jury indicted Burns in September 2022.
During the trial, the evidence presented to jurors established, prosecutors said, that Burns wrongfully targeted Thibodeau and Johnson. Prosecutors also said neither brother had any prior connection to or interactions with Burns.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. called the verdict the product of work spanning years.
“This verdict is the result of years of dedicated work by the investigators and prosecutors committed to seeking justice for the victims and their family. ” Early said in a statement. “I want to thank the Worcester Police Department and Assistant District Attorneys Timothy Westerman and Michael Travers. as well as Victim Witness Advocate Maria Deyette for their tireless efforts in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”.
Burns’ attorneys—Kevin Larson and Shane Surrette—were not available to respond to requests for comment Wednesday night. Burns is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
Worcester Massachusetts Christopher Burns Marcus Thibodeau James Johnson Diamond Inn first-degree murder conviction mistaken identity Worcester County District Attorney
Mistaken identity murders just sounds so messed up. How do you get it that wrong??
So he walks in with the wrong target and cops were like “oops” basically? First-degree murder is still murder, but I don’t know… feels like the headline makes it sound like the system is surprised or something.
I thought “case of mistaken identity” meant like it wasn’t even his fault?? But then it says he was convicted on TWO counts. Maybe they mean mistaken like he *thought* they were someone else, not that he was confused about who he shot? Either way, scary for people outside that Diamond Inn.
Worcester really has some wild stuff going on. December 2021, charged in April 2022, indicted Sept 2022… honestly the timeline seems fast but maybe that’s normal. Also they said there was no prior connection which is always the most haunting part to me. I wonder if the “wrong target” was just a rumor or a mix-up with names or photos, like it happens online all the time, but then it turns into first-degree murder so… yeah.