A 19-year-old from Lynn who originally lived in Chelsea entered a guilty plea on March 7 as his trial was about to commence. He faced charges stemming from gunfire at a party three years prior that claimed the life of 19-year-old Pablo Villeda and left six others wounded.
Emanuel Marrero, now 19, admitted guilt to second-degree murder in Pablo Villeda’s death on March 6, 2016, along with six counts of armed assault with intent to murder and related offenses for the injuries inflicted on six additional young people.
The fatal shooting occurred during an early morning teen gathering on March 6, 2016, at a vacant apartment located on Washington Avenue. On Thursday, March 7, Emanuel Marrero appeared in court and entered his guilty plea to the murder charge.
Judge Linda Giles handed down the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, making him eligible for parole after 15 years and ordering that sentences for the non-fatal shootings run concurrently. Had the defendant proceeded to trial, he would have faced a first-degree murder charge, despite being only 16 at the time of the homicide.
“We accepted this plea because it delivers a
significant measure of accountability for the defendant’s actions, which took
Pablo’s life just as it was ready to begin,” stated District Attorney Rachael Rollins. “It also considers all the potential outcomes at trial and on appeal, as
well as the defendant’s age at the time of the homicide. Nothing we do can
bring Pablo Villeda back to his loving family, but I hope this final result can
at least provide them with closure to this tragic event.”
Police Chief Brian Kyes expressed hope that the prison sentence would provide closure to the family following the tragic incident that occurred in Chelsea three years ago.
“This was certainly a tragic night for
everyone involved and one that none of us will soon forget,” Kyes remarked. “We
truly hope that the imposition of this prison sentence by the Suffolk County
Superior Court will bring some sense of solace to the family of Pablo Villeda
that they absolutely deserve. Senseless acts of violence like this have
no place in our neighborhoods and we will continue to work with our community
partners to prevent tragedies like this from ever occurring again.”
On the early morning of March 6, 2016, Chelsea Police responded to 120 Washington Ave. following multiple reports of a disturbance at a party in a vacant apartment. Officers discovered seven individuals, ranging from 15 to 22 years old, with gunshot wounds. Pablo was transported to the hospital but died from his injuries; the other six victims received treatment at Whidden Memorial Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Assistant District Attorney Julie Higgins from the DA’s Homicide Unit would have presented evidence and testimony demonstrating that the defendant brought a .40 caliber handgun to the party and displayed it to several attendees. According to the evidence, the defendant later confronted the victim and fired shots. Pablo sustained fatal wounds while six others were struck but survived. The defendant left the scene but was subsequently identified through an intensive investigation conducted by Chelsea Police detectives and the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit.
Attorney Richard Chambers represented the defendant.