South End Man Found Guilty of Weapons Possession in 2009 Shooting

CA South End man was convicted on Friday on charges relating to the murder of a young woman celebrating her 18th birthday with friends in 2009, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley announced.

A Superior Court Jury found Miguel Vasquez, now 20, guilty on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm.

In addition, Vasquez’s friend, Ruben Sanchez, 20, of Hyde Park was convicted of second-degree murder and Andres Brea, 21, of Roxbury was found guilty on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 6.

During testimony, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman proved that on the night of September 19, 2009, the three men were kicked out of a Hyde Park home after Vasquez started an argument with the hostess of a birthday party being held for 18-year-old Paula Castillo.

Vasquez and his two friends left the party around 3 a.m. and walked to a car where Sanchez pulled out a revolver and fired several shots in the direction of the home as a way of "sending a message" to the people inside, Hickman said.

One of the bullets struck Castillo in the neck as she put her head out the window of the home. The 18-year-old ran down the stairs and died on the floor of the kitchen. When police arrived, they observed blood in the hallway, on the stairs, and on the walls, the DA's office said in a press release.

Friends administered CPR to the victim, who was reportedly three months pregnant at the time of her death.

Police spoke to witnesses at the party and were able to locate the three men in their car just minutes after the shooting. A revolver was found in the trunk of the car, Hickman said.

The revolver had five rounds, four of which had been discharged, and there was still one live bullet in the chamber. Sanchez also tested positive for gunshot residue, according to the DA's office.

A facebook page titled "RIP Paula Naeomi Castillo" is still active nearly two years after Castillo's death, with over 400 followers. A video tribute to Castillo was posted on YouTube with an intro "Can we all just stop the drama? We're getting tired of saying goodbye to all our friends."