A Suffolk County prosecutor today told a Superior Court jury in a closing argument that the man who fired at a Hyde Park home after attending a party there, fatally striking an 18-year-old woman, did so after he and his two co-defendants were asked to leave the apartment.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman told the court that, on the evening of Sept. 19, 2009, three men walked into a party at 28 Hillis Road – RUBEN SANCHEZ (D.O.B. 9/6/90) of Hyde Park, MIGUEL VASQUEZ (D.O.B. 5/5/91) of Boston’s South End and ANDRES BREA (D.O.B. 1/25/90) of Roxbury – and by approximately 3 a.m., Castillo was dead from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Sanchez is charged with second-degree murder in connection with Castillo’s Sept. 20 shooting death. Vasquez is charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and Brea is charged with being an accessory after the fact to assault by means of a dangerous weapon, for their roles during or in the aftermath of the shooting.

All three defendants are additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.

“The consistent, credible evidence that you’ve seen during this trial proves that these three men are guilty,” Hickman told the court.

Prior to the shooting, Hickman told the court, Sanchez was sitting on a couch in the Hyde Park apartment in a gray hooded sweatshirt, not socializing with the others at the party. He had arrived with Brea and Vasquez, both of whom knew people there, but only one person besides his co-defendants knew Sanchez. “During the course of that party…the three defendants left, with no plans on coming back to 28 Hillis Road – they were going to another party,” Hickman said. “But unfortunately for Ms. Castillo, that other party was cancelled and the defendants returned to 28 Hillis Road.”

Soon after this, Vasquez became involved in a verbal argument with the hostess of the party. Other people at the party intervened in the argument and attempted to calm the situation, but as a result of that argument, the hostess told the three defendants to get out of the apartment.

“Everyone agreed that these guys had to go,” Hickman said.

The three defendants complied, but they continued to exchange words as they went outside. They walked out to Brea’s red Honda Civic and, after being goaded by Vasquez, that’s when witnesses saw “Ruben Sanchez – the man in a gray sweatshirt – pull out a gun,” the prosecutor told the court. “And leaning out the second-floor window is Paula Castillo.”

Witnesses testified that they saw the man identified as Sanchez “pointing that gun at 28 Hillis Road,” Hickman said. “He boldly walked out of that house with a gun, a loaded firearm, and started shooting up at 28 Hillis Road,” Hickman said. “I would suggest that he was sending a message.”

Prior to the shooting, an off-duty Boston Police officer who lived nearby looked out the window of his home after hearing noise, and observed a crowd outside of the Hillis Road home. He then saw two men walk towards a red Honda on the street, and soon after heard gunshots. He observed a male firing a revolver, but was unable to provide a detailed description of the shooter.

At the same time, Paula Castillo had been struck by a bullet in the neck and was “running down the stairs trying to talk, but she couldn’t because of the blood.” She collapsed in the kitchen in a pool of blood, and was surrounded by her friends who were screaming and crying. “Inside that house, Paula Castillo’s friends are watching her die,” Hickman said, despite partygoers’ efforts to administer CPR to keep her alive.

The off-duty officer reported the shooting to the main desk at the District E-18 police station; people inside of the Hillis Road apartment called 911. The officer further observed the shooter – later identified as Mr. Sanchez – get into that vehicle, observed the vehicle drive a short distance, make a U-turn, and stop in front of 28 Hillis Road for one final round let off from the front seat passenger, Hickman said.

The driver of the car at that point was Brea, Hickman said. “He’s the guy who was the getaway driver.”
When Boston Police officers responded to the scene, Hickman said, they observed blood in the hallway, on the stairs and on the walls. Even though officers encountered a “chaotic” scene, they were able to get important information from those witnesses. Some of the witnesses were familiar with Brea or Vasquez, and were able to provide descriptions to police. That information, together with a description of the motor vehicle that fled the scene, and a rapid police response, led to police officers locating and stopping a car that matched the descriptions provided by witnesses within minutes of the shooting. After being pulled over and questioned by police, the defendants allegedly gave different alibis.

In addition to that evidence, Hickman told jurors, Mr. Sanchez tested positive for gunshot residue, and the vehicle that the three defendants were in also tested positive for gunshot residue.

In the trunk of the car, officers found a revolver. That revolver had five rounds, four of which had been discharged, with one live bullet in the chamber.

Kara Hayes, Chief of Conley’s Victim Witness Assistance Program, is the advocate assigned to the case. Sanchez is represented by attorneys Michael Doolin and William Keefe; Vasquez is represented by attorney Daniel Solomon; and Brea is represented by attorney Eleftherios Travayiakis. Judge Raymond Brassard instructed jurors on the law, and they began deliberating late this afternoon. Proceedings were in courtroom 808 of the Suffolk Superior Court.