Man Tried and Convicted of Killing Landlord

Shawn Howard

Shawn D. Howard, 29, was tried for first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into occupied property, for the 2008 shooting death of Jacob Massachi, 53.  Today, the jury returned verdicts of guilty as charged.

The Honorable Richard D. Boner, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, sentenced the defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 25-39 additional months in prison.

On the afternoon of July 29, 2008, Mr. Massachi, the defendant’s landlord, was sitting in his work van in front of the defendant’s residence, preparing to leave for the day. The defendant, who was being evicted from the residence that same day, approached the van with a shotgun and fired one shot at Mr. Massachi from close range. Multiple eyewitnesses were present when the murder occurred. The defendant fled the scene but was apprehended by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers that evening.