Crime
“This senseless act led to the death of Jesse Gray and forever impacted the families of both Mr. Gray and the Defendant as well as the community. My thoughts are with all of those impacted by Mr. Gray’s murder,” the DA said.
A man is charged with murder for allegedly fatally stabbing a man outside a Pittsfield home last week, prosecutors announced Monday.
Zyrus Jaynes, 24, was arraigned on a murder charge Monday in the Central Berkshire District Court. He is being held without bail, prosecutors said in a press release. He pleaded not guilty, court records show.
The night of May 29, police were sent to 10 Hall Place for a reported stabbing, the office of Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said in the release. Officers found Jesse Gray, 36, suffering from a stab wound to his side, prosecutors said.
Gray was taken to Berkshire Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, Shugrue’s office wrote.
According to witnesses, Gray and Jaynes had an alleged altercation outside of the multi-unit home, prosecutors said. Gray drove his car into the home’s driveway, where Jaynes allegedly approached Gray in an “elevated manor,” the DA said.
Jaynes allegedly stabbed Gray and fled, prosecutors said.
The two men had “no prior connection” before the attack, the DA’s office said.
The morning of May 30, police detained Jaynes at 10 Hall Place when he returned to the home, prosecutors said.
“This senseless act led to the death of Jesse Gray and forever impacted the families of both Mr. Gray and the Defendant as well as the community. My thoughts are with all of those impacted by Mr. Gray’s murder,” Shugrue said.
Jaynes was arraigned on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery in July 2025, then arraigned on a separate charge of assault and battery in August 2025, court records show.
“In August, the District Attorney’s Office requested that the Defendant be held without bail; however, the judge ruled against the Commonwealth’s request,” Shugrue’s office wrote in the release.
An attorney for Jaynes could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.
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