Two individuals were convicted on Monday for the murder of Clifton “CJ” Burgess-Williams Jr. in December 2022. The Bucks County jury found Breon D. McRae, 34, of Morrisville, and Pacqi S. Lassiter, 29, of Trenton, N.J., guilty of third-degree murder, among other charges. Bucks County officials reported that the verdict followed a trial that lasted for two weeks, with jurors deliberating for a day and a half before reaching their decision.

Burgess-Williams, aged 26, was sitting in a parked vehicle with his sister, brother, and a friend on Lenora Avenue in Morrisville when he was fatally shot on Dec. 22, 2022. The shooting involved eight bullets being fired, one hitting Burgess-Williams and putting the others' lives in danger too. It was determined that McRae and Lassiter conspired not only to murder but also to commit possession of an instrument of crime and to recklessly endanger those present.

Beyond the convictions for the murder of Burgess-Williams, McRae was found guilty of additional charges, including terroristic threats and simple assault. According to the same announcement by Bucks County, McRae was also convicted in two other cases which included witness intimidation and strangulation. His pattern of violent behavior was consistently brought to light throughout the course of the trial.

Following the verdict, Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller has elected to delay sentencing until March 14, to allow time for a pre-sentencing investigation. This period will serve to thoroughly gather all relevant information before determining the appropriate sentences for McRae and Lassiter. The outcome of this case has been anxiously awaited by the Morrisville community and the family of Burgess-Williams, seeking closure for a senseless act of violence that ripped through the fabric of their lives.