Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today announced the convictions of two Dorchester men for the murders of Manuel Monteiro and Jovany Eason during a shootout two years ago near the Dorchester restaurant where Monteiro worked as a cook.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury convicted EMMANUEL PINA a.k.a. EMMANUEL DePINA (D.O.B. 4/25/83) and SANDRO TAVARES (D.O.B. 12/25/83) of two counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the Aug. 2, 2009, slayings outside Ka’Carlos Bar and Grill on Hancock Street. Jurors acquitted Pina of shooting a third victim who survived his injuries.

The verdict followed about two weeks of trial and just over one full day of deliberations. Both men face mandatory life terms without the possibility of parole at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning.

“In the aftermath of a crime like this, it’s natural to look for an answer or an explanation to make sense of it,” Conley said. “And yet, after two years and a full airing of every single fact, we’re no closer to understanding why two men would bring a gun to an argument and use it to kill not only a rival but also an innocent bystander. This case was tragic in every respect, but most of all because Manuel Monteiro actually tried to defuse the initial conflict. For that act of goodwill, for that act of common sense and maturity, his life was stolen. His friends, his family, his colleagues, and everyone touched by this case are left with a single unanswerable question: Why?”

Suffolk Chief Trial Counsel John Pappas proved that Monteiro, 47, was working and Eason, 20, was a patron when Pina and Tavares arrived at the restaurant shortly after 12:30 that morning. Tavares went inside while Pina waited outside. An argument between Tavares and Eason ensued, with Pina coming into the restaurant and Tavares leaving. The argument continued in the men’s room, from which Monteiro and other restaurant employees later physically removed Pina and escorted him outside. At that point, Tavares was outside the establishment.

Eason later left the restaurant and approached his car outside. Tavares produced a .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun and attempted unsuccessfully to rack the slide. Pina approached him, took possession of the weapon, and began chasing Eason, who cried out, “Don’t shoot!”

His arm outstretched at Eason, Pina fired. The round missed its target and instead crashed through one of the restaurant windows and tore into Monteiro’s chest. He died almost instantly.

Pina continued to chase Eason, firing repeatedly and ultimately striking him several times. He collapsed on Bird Street and also died of his injuries. In the moments that followed, one of Eason’s compatriots fired on Pina, who fired back and wounded that man.

Boston Police responded to the scene and gathered not only video evidence from multiple surveillance cameras bust also statements from several witnesses. Those witnesses – some of whom were later compelled to testify in the Suffolk County Special Grand Jury – were crucial to building and proving the case, Conley said.

Catherine Rodriguez was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Attorney James Budreau represented Pina and attorney John Moss represented Tavares. Judge Elizabeth Donovan presided over the trial.