'Awful incident': Brockton man found guilty of murdering homeless man walking service dog
Keith Disharoom, 44, was found guilty Tuesday of one count of first-degree murder in the July 2021 stabbing death of 44-year-old Eric Cohen, formerly of Holbrook, the DA's office said.
He is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in Brockton Superior Court Friday, Aug. 1.
Another man, Mark Stroud, 29, is accused of beating Cohen's service dog during the altercation. He is currently awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and animal cruelty, according to the DA's office.
Cohen's service dog, named Righteous, survived the attack. He accompanied Cohen's family and friends to Disharoom's initial arraignment in Brockton District Court in 2021.
"[Cohen] would give you the shirt off his back," Joanne Berryman, a longtime friend of Cohen, told The Enterprise in 2021. "He was a really good guy, very giving. This was an awful incident," she said.
Fatal stabbing of homeless man: What happened?
During his initial arraignment in Brockton District Court, prosecutors said Disharoom, then 40, pulled his truck up to the victim, Cohen, who was walking his service dog Righteous on North Main Street at around 7:38 p.m. Sunday, July 18, 2021.
Assistant District Attorney Josh Gedraitis said in court that the two men were familiar with each other and had argued in the past.
What prosecutors said: Two men indicted on murder charges in stabbing death of homeless man in Brockton
During the incident on July 18, the two engaged in a verbal altercation which escalated when Cohen, who was homeless at the time, allegedly punched Disharoom in the face, according to prosecutors.
Disharoom drove away and returned twice to confront Cohen. The second time Disharoom confronted Cohen, two men, one of who was identified as Mark Stroud, then 25, accompanied him, prosecutors said.
As the altercation continued to escalate, Disharoom fatally stabbed Cohen twice in the upper chest while Mark Stroud allegedly swung a baseball bat and struck the victim's service dog and another nearby woman, according to the DA's office.
Real estate report Easton home on Sierra Drive that sold for over $1M 'epitomizes one-of-a-kind luxury'
Next Steps
Disharoom is scheduled for a sentencing hearing Friday, Aug. 1.
Stroud, now 29, is in custody awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and animal cruelty, according to the DA's office.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton man found guilty of 2021 murder of Eric Cohen. Other suspect?
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