MANCHESTER, NH — A city man will spend at least 30 years in prison for the murder of a childhood friend and fellow gang member last year. Paul Dimick, 28, pleaded guilty Monday in Hillsborough County Superior Court North to reckless second-degree murder in the shooting death of Justin “Drizzy” Lee on Sept. 7, 2018. He also pleaded guilty to falsifying evidence.
Dimick pleaded guilty to shooting Lee on Sept. 7, 2018, at Hanover and Lincoln streets. They had known each other since childhood and both were members of the Gangster Disciples, according to reports published by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
Dimick shot Lee because he stole some electronics and other things from him.
Immediately after the shooting, witnesses identified Dimick as the shooter. SWAT was called in and Manchester Central High School was put on lockdown for hours, even after the usual dismissal time had passed.
Dimick wasn’t arrested until five days after the shooting when investigators learned he was inside an apartment on East High Street, just blocks from the scene of the murder. SWAT was called in again and Dimick was arrested by surrounding officers as he fled out a window.
The plea agreement calls for Dimick spending 30 years to life in a prison outside of the state of New Hampshire. As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors dropped charges of first-degree murder, being an armed career criminal and being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon.
A relative of Justin Lee was in the courtroom when Dimick entered the guilty plea. Dimick is to be sentenced in January.
