2 Men Sentenced, 1 Charged In Shooting Death Of Framingham Man

FRAMINGHAM, MA—A Hudson man will serve up to 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty for his part in the shooting death of a 21-year-old Framingham man.

Bryan Pertarb, 25, Hudson, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court to manslaughter in connection with the 2013 shooting death of Juan Lopez, 21, of Framingham, said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Framingham Chief of Police Steven Trask.

Judge Bruce Henry sentenced Pertarb to 6 to 12 years in state prison.

Police called to an apartment complex around 11 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2013, found Lopez shot once in the chest through a closed window of his car. He was brought to MetroWest Medical Center, where he later died.

Investigators found that Cruz had arranged to meet Lopez at the Second Street complex to buy about half a pound of marijuana. Unbeknownst to the victim, a third man, Jeremy Rodriguez, 23, of Framingham, had conspired with Pertarb and Cruz to rob him. When Lopez arrived at the spot on Second Street, he got the marijuana from the trunk of his car and then got into the driver’s seat.

Rodriguez, wearing a Halloween mask, approached the driver’s side window and fired one shot into the car and hit Lopez in the chest, authorities said. The three defendants ran away.

Police found a black-knit ski mask with a white skeleton design on it at the intersection of Homeward Lane and Garden Road in Natick, not far from the shooting.

In September 2018, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempting to commit a crime, conspiracy, possession of a firearm without a license, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a loaded firearm. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

Cruz is charged with murder, attempting to commit a crime and conspiracy. These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Photo via Shutterstock