On a February afternoon in 2017, the life of a Hispanic male, Juan Moreta Perello, was tragically cut short in a brazen daytime shooting in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The 46-year-old father of thirteen was near his home on Avon Street when the harrowing events unfolded. Shortly before 4:00 p.m. on February 16, a man approached him and began to open fire.
A chase ensued down the street, with the assailant continuing to shoot.
Lawrence Police responded to reports of shots fired at approximately 4:01 p.m. and discovered Perello near the intersection of Trinity and Avon Streets. He was rushed to Lawrence General Hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. An investigation revealed that he had been shot ten times. The case drew significant attention from law enforcement who worked to piece together the events of that fatal day and bring justice to the grieving family.
The investigation led authorities to Justin Hollingsworth of Mattapan. Surveillance video and cell phone data proved to be crucial in the case against him. This evidence showed that a car registered to Hollingsworth had been present in the vicinity of Avon and Wilmot Streets for several hours on the day of the murder, as well as in the days leading up to it. Witness statements further corroborated the video surveillance which placed his 2015 Ford Focus near the victim's home. Video footage also captured a man matching Hollingsworth's description approaching Perello just before the shooting began.
Following a six-day trial in March 2022, a jury deliberated for nearly four hours before finding Justin Hollingsworth guilty of first-degree murder. At his sentencing, four of Perello's family members spoke of the immense void his death had created in their lives. The victim's eldest son expressed his gratitude to the prosecutors and police for their tireless work in gathering the evidence necessary to secure a conviction. The court imposed the mandatory sentence for his crime, and Hollingsworth was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Juan Moreta Perello.
