Dorchester man charged with Academy Homes murder; another suspect still at large

A Dorchester man with a record of gun arrests was charged yesterday on charges he shot Jose Despeignes, 56, to death in an apartment on Weaver Way in Roxbury's Academy Homes development Saturday afternoon, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Austin Dillon, 36, was ordered held without bail at his arraignment today in Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, third offense, the DA's office reports, adding that police are continuing to search for a second man they say was involved in the murder.

The DA's office provided this account of what happened on the third floor of 109 Weaver Way shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Saturday:

Officers found Despeignes on the third floor suffering from a gunshot wound. Despeignes was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness told police they were in the residence Saturday afternoon when two men entered through the front door. The witness said one of the men was known to them as 2G. The witness did not recognize the second man. The witness said 2G asked for some marijuana and also asked to take a shower. While the two men and the witness were talking, Despeignes walked down from an upper floor of the residence and handed 2G a “blunt” of marijuana.

The witness said they went upstairs to clean the bathroom. The witness said 2G came up the stairs while the witness was cleaning the bathroom. The witness said they heard a “pop,” which the witness believed to be a gunshot. The witness looked in an adjacent bedroom and observed Despeignes lying on the floor. The witness then ran after 2G and asked why he shot Despeignes. 2G said that he had seen Despeignes leaving his girlfriend’s house the night before.

Further investigation, including video evidence from outside the residence, determined 2G to be Austin Dillon.

Innocent, etc.