Maurice Fussell and Accessory Plead Guilty, Sentenced in Manslaughter of Earl Ricker
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SALEM, Mass. – September 24, 2026 – In Essex County Superior Court today, Maurice Fussell, 50, of Dorchester pled guilty to manslaughter and other charges tied to the fatal shooting of Earl Ricker, 40, on Lincoln Street in Lynn on September 2, 2023, the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker confirms. Before the Hon. Elizabeth Dunigan today, Fussell pled guilty to manslaughter, five counts of witness intimidation, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and carrying a firearm without a license.
Judge Dunigan sentenced Fussell to nine years (to nine years and one day) in state prison on the manslaughter charge, with concurrent sentences of nine years (to nine years and one day) in state prison on the witness intimidation charges, two and one-half years (to two and one-half years and one day) in state prison on the carrying a firearm without a license charge, and two years in the House of Correction on the carrying a firearm charge consecutive to the carrying a firearm without a license sentence. Following his incarceration, Fussell will then serve one year of probation, during which time he must follow all laws and stay away from/have no contact with victims and witnesses in the case and stay away from Lincoln Street in Lynn.
Fussell was represented by attorney Rosemary Scapicchio. Tucker lauded the diligent work of Assistant District Attorney Susan Dolhun, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth, as well as the work of the Lynn Police Department, including Sgt. Devon Dupuis and Det. Joshua Hilton, and Massachusetts State Police detectives, including Det. Jay McCarthy (ret.), in identifying and arresting Fussell following the fatal shooting.
Also in Essex County Superior Court in Salem today, a co-defendant in the case, Monique Jones, 45, of Lynn, pled guilty to charges of being an accessory before the fact to a manslaughter and being an accessory after the fact. Judge Dunigan sentenced her to 6.5 to seven years in state prison on the first charge, with the same sentence to run concurrently on the second charge and credit for time in custody dating back to her arrest on November 17, 2023. Dolhun prosecuted the case against Jones as well. Jones was represented by attorney James McCall.
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