WORCESTER — On Aug. 7, 2025, a Worcester County Superior Court jury found Leroy L. Thompson Jr., 30, of Worcester, guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a man in the early morning hours of July 5, 2020. Thompson was also convicted of reckless endangerment of a child.
According to a statement from Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.’s Office, on July 6, 2020, Joshua Lopez, 24, of Worcester, died after being shot by Thompson on July 5, 2020, while sitting in the backseat of a vehicle near Almont Avenue in Worcester. A minor child was also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
“I want to thank the Worcester Police Department, Assistant District Attorneys Timothy Westerman and George Somi, and Victim Witness Advocate Margaret Rwaramba, for an excellent job on this case,” Early said. “I also want to thank the jury for their work in reaching this verdict.”
Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced by Worcester Superior Court Judge Valerie Yarashus on Sept. 24, 2025.
“I want to thank the men and women of the Worcester Police Department for their steadfast commitment to all victims in order to get closure for their families,” said Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier. “The WPD also values our partnership with District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. and his staff of talented prosecutors whom also demand closure for the loved ones of heinous crime victims.”
