Curtis Stevenson found guilty of 2022 Springfield murder

June 20, 2024 -Springfield- A Hampden County Superior Court Jury has found Curtis Stevenson, 50, of Springfield guilty of murder, attempt to commit crime, carrying a firearm without license possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without a license,  stemming from an attempted robbery in January of 2022.  

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “I hope that this verdict brings some degree of justice to Mr. Garner’s family. I thank the detectives from the Springfield Police Department for their thoroughness in this investigation. I also thank my team, especially lead trial counsel, Assistant District Attorney Katharine Johnston, second chair Assistant District Attorney Peter Gallucci, appellate counsel Assistant District Attorney Michael Locke, for all their hard work on this case.”

On Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at approximately 6:50 p.m. Officers from the Springfield Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter activation on the 0-100 block of Hayden Ave. After arriving on scene, officers located an adult male gunshot victim near the intersection of Cambridge & Burr Streets. The victim had been lured to the area in an attempted robbery leading to his death.  The victim was transported to Baystate where he succumbed to his injuries later in evening. The victim was later identified as Mr. Lashar Garner, 37, of Springfield.

Cody Kennedy, 40, and Stacy Sorrell, 39, both of Springfield await trial in Hampden County Superior Court, both on a charge of armed robbery while masked in connection with this incident.

A sentencing hearing for Curtis Stevenson is scheduled for July 9, 2024 in Hampden County Superior Court.

Assistant District Attorney Katharine Johnston represented the Commonwealth in this case.