A Chelsea, Massachusetts, man has been sentenced to life in prison after he admitted to killing a man whom he wrongly believed to be a gang rival.
Jonathan Castro pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree murder in 21-year-old Elder Morales' March 5, 2013 shooting death. Castro also pleaded guilty to armed assault with intent to murder for firing upon a second man in the same incident, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm.
The judge imposed the mandatory term for second-degree murder of life in prison with the eligibility for parole after 15 years, with concurrent sentences of 10 to 12 years for armed assault with intent to murder, four to five years for unlawfully possessing the firearm he used in the murder, and two and a half years in the house of correction for carrying a loaded firearm.
Had the case proceeded to trial, Assistant District Attorney Mark Zanini would have presented evidence and testimony to prove that on March 5 of last year, Castro was among a group of several men affiliated with the 18th Street gang, who approached a Blossom Street home where they intended to attack Morales and the surviving victim.
The men believed the victims were members of a rival gang and that one of them had previously attacked Elder Portillo.
Prosecutors say Morales had no ties to the gang and neither victim had been involved in any prior altercations with any of the defendants.
Portillo allegedly attacked Morales with a knife; Erick Romero followed. Castro fired approximately five shots from the opposite side of the street.
Massachusetts
The latest news from around the state
Morales was struck once in the chest and once in the back of the head. He died at Whidden Memorial Hospital.
Castro was arrested the next day. The two other Chelsea men were identified in the course of a grand jury investigation and were also charged with Morales' homicide. Their cases are pending.
