On a spring evening in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the life of Delvis Paulino-Fernandez, a 26-year-old Hispanic male, was cut tragically short. It was Sunday, May 3, 2020, and a small group had gathered for a backyard get-together at a residence on Newton Street. Shortly after 9 p.m., the gathering was shattered by gunfire. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found Paulino-Fernandez deceased.
Two other men had also been shot during the incident; they were transported to Lawrence General Hospital for treatment and were later released. The investigation into the fatal shooting was launched by the Essex District Attorney's Office, the Essex State Police Detective Unit, and the Lawrence Police.
The investigation led to the identification and arrest of two individuals in connection with the deadly shooting. Hector Baez, who was 25 at the time of his plea, and Miguel Angel Vega Rodriguez, 23, were charged in the death of Paulino-Fernandez and the wounding of the two other men. The case against the two men proceeded through the justice system, culminating in guilty pleas from both. In May 2023, Hector Baez, of Haverhill and Lawrence, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a series of other charges, including assault and battery and illegal firearm possession. A judge sentenced him to serve 22 to 26 years in state prison.
A year later, his co-defendant, Miguel Angel Vega Rodriguez of Lawrence, also accepted a plea deal. In December 2024, Vega Rodriguez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, two counts of armed assault to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and carrying a firearm without a license. He received an identical sentence to his accomplice: 22 to 26 years in state prison, to be followed by three years of probation. As part of his probation, he is prohibited from contacting any victims or witnesses and from possessing weapons. With the convictions of both men, the legal chapter of the violent night that ended a young man's life at a backyard party came to a close.
