On the evening of October 22, 2021, a Black / African American male named Craig McDonald Jr., a 20-year-old from Randolph, Massachusetts, was fatally shot following a high school football game in Everett. The incident, which shattered the festive post-game atmosphere, took place at approximately 7:57 p.m. near the intersection of Revere Street and Second Street. McDonald was sitting in his parked car with two friends when a man approached the driver's side and opened fire, striking him.
His friends rushed him to the CHA Everett Hospital Emergency Department, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The investigation, a joint effort by the Everett Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, quickly honed in on a suspect. Through witness interviews, a review of surveillance footage, and an analysis of phone records, authorities identified Michael J. Stanton, a 19-year-old from Chelsea, as the shooter. The motive for the killing was determined to have originated from a conflict on social media. On the day of the shooting, Stanton and his friends had reportedly been monitoring McDonald and his girlfriend at the homecoming game before following him to his car. Stanton was arrested on October 26, 2021, and arraigned on a murder charge the following day in Malden District Court, where he was ordered to be held without bail.
Further investigation led to the arrests of two other individuals in connection with the murder. Luiz M. Perlera, an 18-year-old from Lunenberg, was initially arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact. Authorities alleged that Perlera destroyed evidence related to the shooting. His charges were later upgraded to murder. A third person, 19-year-old Andre Clarke of Randolph, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact and witness intimidation. In October 2024, following a three-week trial, Michael J. Stanton was convicted of second-degree murder. Luiz Perlera's trial on the murder charge was scheduled to take place later that same month.
