A violent brawl erupted in Suffolk Superior Court today as 16-year-old Terrance Jacobs’ killers were sentenced to life in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Judge Judith Fabricant imposed the mandatory sentence, which allows for the possibility of parole after 15 years, on PAUL GOODE (D.O.B. 1/9/83), PEDRO ORTIZ (D.O.B. 8/8/79), and TERRANCE PABON (D.O.B. 1/22/90), all of Dorchester, and MARKEESE MITCHELL (D.O.B. 4/9/91) of Brockton. The four were convicted yesterday after a four-week trial.

Spectators in the gallery began to mutter, shout, and storm from the room as the clerk of the court read off the men’s sentences. Within seconds, that activity escalated into shouted expletives, pushes, and punches, with court officers and Boston Police ordering all parties from the courtroom. Additional court officers and Boston Police responded to assist in clearing the room and quelling the disturbance, which by then had spilled into the lobby. They made two arrests, suffering minor injuries in the process.

“What happened in that courtroom was offensive at every single level,” Conley said. “It was an affront to the victim’s family. It showed no respect for the court. It put everyone’s safety at risk. It can’t be tolerated. We’re working with Boston Police and the Trial Court to identify, apprehend, and aggressively prosecute the bad actors in that room today. Had the police and court officers not responded so quickly and so professionally, the outcome could have been much, much worse.”

Prior to sentencing, Jacobs’ aunt took the stand to speak on behalf of her family, reading a brief statement from her father and offering words of her own.

“It’s hard to grasp how you took the life of my 16-year-old nephew in such an animalistic way,” she said. “I know that Terrance called on Jesus because we raised him in the church, and that is something that you four can never take away from us who loved Terrance.”

Assistant District Attorney Mark Hallal tried the case with Assistant District Attorney Stacie Moeser. Paula Connor was the victim-witness advocate assigned to the case. Goode, Ortiz, Pabon, and Mitchell were represented by attorneys Scott Curtis, Michael Doolin, Stephen Neyman, and Elliot Weinstein, respectively.

Late today, the two men arrested during the donnybrook were arraigned in the Boston Municipal Court. REINALDO ORTIZ (D.O.B. 12/13/83) of Hyde Park was held on $500 cash bail following his arraignment for a single count of disorderly conduct; BRANDON PIGHT (D.O.B. 3/17/93) of Dorchester was held on $8,500 cash bail following his arraignment on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – a shod foot – and disturbing the peace. Both men will return to court next month.