BOSTON, Dec. 17, 2013—A member of a violent Roxbury-based street gang was found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of his one-time friend, 24-year-old Anthony Depina, outside a Roxbury bar last year, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Jurors convicted JASON BARBOSA (D.O.B. 1/8/89) after eight days of trial and about two days of deliberations. He faces a mandatory life term without the possibility of parole when sentenced tomorrow morning.

“This defendant has been on the fringes or in the thick of numerous shootings and homicides,” Conley said. “He has for years been a driving force in the violence afflicting Boston’s Cape Verdean community, and the city is safer now with him off the street.”

First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Haggan and Assistant District Attorney Teresa Anderson proved that Barbosa was part of a group based on Woodward Avenue in Roxbury locked in a deadly feud with another group based on Wendover Street in Dorchester. Depina, the evidence showed, grew up with Barbosa and for years was his close friend; Barbosa later aligned himself with Woodward – Wendover’s sworn rivals.

Tension between the two groups was running high in the aftermath of a Dec. 24, 2011, altercation between Woodward and Wendover associates. In that incident, Barbosa was shot by Depina’s friends during a confrontation at a gas station in Boston’s South End.

That was one of at least three shootings Barbosa survived – he was also shot by MANUEL ANDRADE (D.O.B. 10/30/73) during the 2007 gunfight on Geneva Avenue that killed 22-year-old Chiara Levin.

Even after the shooting, however, Depina travelled into rival territory on the night of Feb. 23, 2012, and encountered Barbosa inside a bar on Norfolk Avenue. Later that evening, as Depina stood outside the bar, Barbosa drove by in a vehicle that slowed down as it passed him.

“You don’t belong here,” Barbosa said to his one-time friend.

Things escalated even further at about 11:15 p.m., when Depina was leaving the area. After a set of headlights from a nearby car flashed repeatedly in what prosecutors said was a signal, Barbosa approached Depina.

Knowing what would happen next, Depina asked a question of his one-time friend – “For real, Little J?” – before three shots rang out. Depina suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the head and one to the chest, either of which could have been fatal. He died at the scene.

Prosecutors introduced evidence and testimony supporting Barbosa’s knowing participation in Depina’s murder, either as the shooter or a joint venture. Either way, the evidence showed that he was responsible for Depina’s homicide.

Barbosa was represented by attorney John Galvin. He will be sentenced by Judge Christine McEvoy in courtroom 808 tomorrow at 9:30. a.m.

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