On May 12, 2024, a tragic incident occurred at a large house party in Northborough, Massachusetts, resulting in the death of 16-year-old Ygor Correia from Bellingham. The party, which was celebrating a woman's 21st birthday, drew nearly 300 people and was held at a residence on Howard Street. The evening turned chaotic when gunfire erupted, captured in a cellphone video that showed the frenzied crowd and the subsequent panic.
The shooting was reported to the authorities after a person flagged down a Northborough police officer around 1 a.m. to inform them that someone had brandished a firearm at the party. The officer called for backup, and as more than two dozen officers approached the home, they heard gunshots. Upon arriving, police found two teenagers with gunshot wounds, including Ygor Correia. Two officers carried Correia down the hill from the property to an awaiting ambulance, but he was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial Hospital.
In addition to Correia's death, a 17-year-old was also shot and two other partygoers were injured in the melee. These individuals were taken to Marlborough Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Several other teens and young adults who were injured declined medical treatment.
The investigation led to the identification of Erik Coelho Dos Santos, 20, of Brockton, as a suspected gunman in Correia's death. Dos Santos remains at large and is wanted on a murder charge. Authorities have asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact an anonymous Massachusetts State Police tip line.
Separately, three other individuals were arrested on firearms charges in connection with the investigation. Wallisom Texeira Da Silva, 20, of Hyde Park; Arnoldo Nogueira Filho, 19, of Marlborough; and Pedro Desouza-Passos, 27, of Rockland, were arraigned at Westborough District Court. Texeira Da Silva was held without bail after a handgun was found near the scene, which he acknowledged owning. Nogueira and Desouza-Passos were held on cash bail. However, their lawyers questioned the grounds for the vehicle stop and the search of the purses in which ammunition was found.
The homeowner, who was present during the party, had been warned beforehand not to allow the party to happen, but it is unclear if they will face charges. The incident has left a significant impact on the community, particularly the quiet neighborhood of Northborough, which had not experienced such violence before.
