2 charged with murder in death of 62-year-old Fitchburg man

FITCHBURG — Two men have been indicted in Worcester Superior Court on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a 62-year-old Fitchburg man in his home, according to the office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Thomas E. Martin, 45, of 5 Wallace Road, Apt. 2, Fitchburg; and Christian Collins, 37, of 28 Bridgeport St., Apt. 2, Worcester, are charged in connection with the death of Michael Parks.

According to the statement of facts by state Trooper Ryan MacLean, Parks fired at Martin first and hit him in the leg, after Martin and Collins had entered Parks' home at 278 Marshall St. and threatened him. Collins fired back and hit Parks in the chest.

MacLean wrote that earlier on July 28, Martin had entered the basement of Parks' home uninvited and holding a firearm, threatening that he was “going to kill” Parks. A witness told police that the two men had previously had a physical altercation that resulted in Martin’s removal from a gathering, according to the statement of facts.

Martin told investigators that he had entered the basement with the intention to “scare” Parks, according to the statement of facts.

Martin left but returned three and a half hours later with Collins, according to the statement of facts. A witness said that this time, Collins was armed while Martin was not. Martin allegedly continued to threaten Parks.

According to the statement of facts, Parks discharged a firearm, striking Martin in the leg, and Collins then fired, striking Parks in the chest.

Collins and Martin left the scene and drove in a car owned by Collins’ girlfriend to her home on Ashburnham Hill Road.

Collins woke up his girlfriend and asked her to drive Martin to the hospital, according to the statement of facts. The girlfriend dropped Martin off at a Worcester hospital and then drove Collins to New Haven, Connecticut.

Around 9:30 p.m., Fitchburg police responding to a reported shooting at the Marshall Street home found Parks, who was later pronounced dead at Leominster Hospital.

Martin was taken into police custody on July 29 at UMass Memorial Hospital, while Collins surrendered two days later at Fitchburg District Court.

Martin and Collins were arraigned Aug. 4 in Fitchburg District Court on charges of murder and home invasion. They were ordered held without bail. The indictments move the case against both men to Worcester Superior Court, where arraignments will be held at a later date.

A Worcester County grand jury handed up indictments charging Martin and Collins with murder, home invasion, armed assault in a dwelling, assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm without an FID card, Early announced.

Martin is also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Parks was a member of the Tunnel Workers Local 88 for more than 25 years, according to his obituary.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 2 charged with murder in death of 62-year-old Fitchburg man