A suspect charged in a deadly 2022 Roxbury shooting is expected to change a not guilty plea in court today, a pivotal turn in a case that began with gunfire on a school-adjacent street and has weighed on the victim’s family for two years. The defendant, identified in court records as Timothy Timson, is expected to plead guilty to manslaughter.
According to WHDH, Timson is scheduled to enter the manslaughter plea today. The outlet reports that an earlier trial last year ended in a mistrial and notes that Timson, who identified as male at the time of the 2022 shooting, now identifies as female. WHDH also reports that Timson left the area after the shooting and was arrested months later in New York City.
Where the shooting happened
The shooting on April 27, 2022 unfolded on Wabeno Street at the intersection with Wyoming Street, just a short walk from Trotter Elementary School, and left 51-year-old David Wood dead at the scene. Television footage from that day showed crime scene tape, evidence markers scattered along the pavement, and nearby schools placed on lockdown out of what officials described as an abundance of caution. Those scene details were documented in coverage by WCVB.
Arrest and case history
Boston.com reported that Timson was arrested in Midtown Manhattan in November 2022, roughly seven months after the killing, and then held in NYPD custody while awaiting extradition to Boston. Prosecutors later brought the case to trial, but those proceedings ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors now appear to be moving to resolve the case with a manslaughter plea, according to WHDH. Any sentencing date will hinge on whether the judge accepts the plea and on whatever terms the parties negotiate.
What a manslaughter plea means
Under Massachusetts law, a manslaughter conviction can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years, although the actual term depends on the specifics of the case and any plea agreement, according to FindLaw. A guilty plea would shift the focus to sentencing, where prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge weigh aggravating and mitigating factors before deciding on a final punishment.
What comes next
If the plea is entered and accepted, the judge will schedule a sentencing hearing, and relatives of the victim may be allowed to offer impact statements, a right recognized under state law and reflected in Massachusetts case law, as summarized on Justia. The formal outcome will be reflected in court dockets and filings, and local media are expected to track and report any upcoming court dates.
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