Man convicted of murder after Everett High homecoming game

A man was found guilty of killing a spectator after a homecoming football game in Everett, the Middlesex County prosecutor announced Tuesday.

Michael Stanton fatally shot Craig McDonald Jr., 20, of Randolph, on Oct. 22, 2021, with an illegally obtained weapon, the release states. The conflict between the two men began on social media, prosecutors said. A statement of facts in the case said McDonald Jr.’s girlfriend had “disrespected” Stanton’s best friend online.

Both men were present at the homecoming game while Stanton and his friends “actively monitored” McDonald Jr., according to court documents. During halftime, Stanton and his friends, known as the “Villa Ave” group, donned masks and hoods, according to documents. The “Villa Ave” members followed McDonald Jr. to the parking lot and shot him in his car, the prosecutor said.

McDonald Jr.’s friend drove him to the hospital before police arrived, according to court records. McDonald died later that night, according to court records.

“This case is an example of the dangerous trend where young people illegally possess firearms and use them to perpetrate violence in our communities,” said Prosecutor Marian Ryan. “While nothing can alleviate the harm caused by this defendant, this prosecution reflects our commitment to holding those who commit these acts of violence accountable. »

Stanton, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, was tried and convicted in Middlesex Superior Court. Judge Laurence Pierce on Wednesday sentenced Stanton to 19 years in prison with the possibility of parole, according to court documents.

Stanton’s representation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.