BOSTON, March 7, 2017—The gunman who shot and killed 44-year-old Jose Maldonado three years ago was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison today, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury today found RAYMOND ARROYO (D.O.B. 3/22/92) guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and first-degree murder under the theory of deliberate premeditation in the Mission Hill shooting that claimed Maldonado’s life. The verdict followed about one day of deliberations.

“No verdict can give Mr. Maldonado’s family the one thing they long for, which is to have him in their arms,” Conley said. “I hope they can take some comfort and satisfaction that Suffolk prosecutors, victim advocates, and others refused to let his death go unanswered.”

Shortly after the verdict, Judge Maureen B. Hogan sentenced Arroyo to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the mandatory term for murder one.

During about seven days of testimony, Assistant District Attorneys John Verner of the DA’s Homicide Unit and Kathryn Leary of the DA’s Appellate Division introduced evidence and testimony proving that Arroyo traveled to the area of Turquoise Way with another man at about 11:45 am on March 31, 2014. As Maldonado was walking in that area, the evidence showed, Arroyo allegedly overtook him on foot from behind and shot him repeatedly with a handgun. In the aftermath of the shooting, Arroyo was driven from the area by another man.

Maldonado was mortally wounded. He was rushed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

 Arroyo was identified as the gunman through the recovery and analysis of surveillance imagery from the area of the shooting, as well as witness statements and Arroyo’s own admissions to others. He later fled to the Dominican Republic, where he was apprehended and deported to the United States after his 2015 indictment by the Suffolk County Grand Jury.

Arroyo’s co-defendant, ISHMAEL DOUGLAS (D.O.B. 12/25/86), will face trial at a later date.

Elise McConnell was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Arroyo was represented by attorney Hank Brennan.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.