Taunton man sentenced to prison for 2017 violent armed robbery

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said Tuesday that a Taunton man has been sentenced to prison for a 2017 violent armed robbery.

Billy Morris, 23, plead guilty last week to charges related to a robbery at Eagan’s Liquor Store in Taunton. He is charged with armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery by discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun.

Morris, and a juvenile, entered the store with a sawed-off shotgun and demanded money. The co-owner of the store was seriously injured after the juvenile fired a shot.

According to a police report, the victim had major flesh wounds on her left rib, a severed thumb, and cuts on her face.

Investigators conducted a search of the juvenile’s High Street home and found clothing consistent with the robbers.

Police found a sawed-off shotgun in the juvenile’s room with his fingerprints on it. Morris’ DNA was also found on sneakers in the juvenile’s room similar to those worn in the surveillance footage.

Morris has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison. The juvenile is currently facing five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to charges in 2019.