Man convicted of slaying teen at 2021 Carnival

A Suffolk Superior Court jury on Monday convicted Omara Shears, 46, of first-degree murder for the death of Javare Sommerville-Adams, 17, as the teen was standing at Blue Hill Avenue and Columbia Road enjoying the Carnival celebration on the morning of Aug. 28, 2021, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

The verdict means a sentence of life without parole.

According to prosecutors, Shears and Sommerville-Adams didn't know each other and had no connection save that the two wound up standing in front of Stash's for a few moments before Shears plunged a knife into the teen's neck.

As Sommerville-Adams crumpled to the sidewalk, Shears put on a ball cap and sauntered away toward Seaver Street: "Video then showed Shears interacting with members of his family while holding a knife in his hand."

Sommerville-Adams was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, the DA's office reports.

In a statement, DA Kevin Hayden, who attended the reading of the verdict, said:

"What guilty verdicts can do is bring survivors of homicide victims the knowledge that justice has been served and an offender has been held accountable for their actions. But what verdicts can never do is erase the pain and loss and grief of losing a loved one. I’m grateful for the jury’s service and verdict in this tragic and inexplicable act of violence - which ended the life of a young man enjoying a city festival - and my office will remain at the service of Javare’s family as they continue to process their terrible loss."

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