Local man gets life for murder in Lawrence, Mass.

NEW YORK.- A Dominican resident in Lawrence, Mass. and convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 33-year Rolando Fuentes in revenge, was sentenced yesterday to life in prison by Judge Richard Welch III.

Jose Ruiz was sentenced after challenging prosecutors and the evidence introduced in the trial that lasted five days in Lawrence Superior Court.

Ruiz, whose sentence makes him eligible for parole, was also convicted on weapons charges, for which he’ll serve an additional 4 to 5 years.

Prosecutors said early morning on July 25, 2009, Ruiz gunned down Fuentes because the victim had shot his father in the neck, in a crossfire in the convict’s house in which the victim’s brother – Orlando Fuentes – was mortal wounded and the Dominican’s father was severely injured in the neck.

Fuentes later pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and illegal possession of a firearm for which he was sentenced to 7 years in prison, plus three years probation.