Man In Brighton Shooting Death Held Without Bail

Updated at 4:55 p.m.

BOSTON — A man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he fatally shot an elderly neighbor in his wheelchair, then fired at police officers who tried to attend to the victim.

Randy Floyd Moore appeared in Brighton District Court and was ordered held without bail in the death of 78-year-old William Thomas at an elderly housing complex Wednesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said. Moore was charged with murder and two counts of armed assault with intent to murder.

Officers found Thomas with a large gunshot wound to his chest. A witness told police he heard the door to Moore's apartment — almost directly above Thomas' apartment — open just before the shooting in Boston's Brighton neighborhood.

"As the officers approached the rear door of apartment No. 60 to secure the scene, the defendant fired multiple rounds through the door at them," Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hallal said. "The rounds went through the door and right by the head of one of the officers."

Thomas and emergency workers were escorted to a waiting ambulance by officers with weapons drawn, and Moore fired additional rounds at police, Hallal said.

The 56-year-old Moore then instigated a two-hour standoff with officers until a negotiator persuaded him to give up his weapons, authorities said. A shotgun believed to have been used during the shooting was out in the open inside the apartment when Moore was arrested, along with "numerous" live and spent shells and pellets.

Thomas was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he later died.

Moore's attorney, Matthew Kamholtz, didn't immediately return a phone message Thursday. Police haven't commented on a possible motive for the shooting.

Moore, a Boston resident, is scheduled to return to court Sept. 9.

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