Thomas Koonce Granted Parole After 31 Years In Prison For Murder

BOSTON — A convicted murderer who has spent 30 years of his life sentence behind bars will soon be out of prison. The Massachusetts Parole Board voted Tuesday to grant Thomas Koonce release after Gov. Charlie Baker commuted his life sentence.

This is the first time in 25 years that a Massachusetts governor has reduced a life sentence, and the first time Baker has approved of such.

The State Advisory Board of Pardons had unanimously recommended to Baker last year that he commute Koonce's sentence from first- to second-degree murder, making them eligible for parole.

Koonce, now 55, was 20 years old and a former marine when he shot and killed 24-year-old Mark J. Santos, of New Bedford in 1987.

Through court records, Koonce has maintained that he meant to fire a warning shot in the air, never to actually hit Santos when two groups from New Bedford and Brockton began fighting. He was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder with no chance of parole. His sentence started on Dec. 21, 1991.

Over the last few decades, Allen and Koonce have made strides in doing "extraordinary things while in jail," Terrence Kennedy, member of the Governor's Council said back in January.

Koonce has participated in several programs, was active in the church, and earned a bachelor's degree through Boston University's prison education program while serving time, the administration said.

According to court documents, the Santos family tried to fight his clemency plea, but on Tuesday, the board granted Koonce parole with conditions including a four-month stay in a transitional home.

The parole board is still reviewing whether to grant parole to Allen.