Officials have finally charged Henry “J.R.” Del-Rio, 27, with the 2015 killing of 21-year-old Ashlee Berryman in Everett. The Chelsea man faces multiple charges, including First Degree Murder, stemming from the incident outside the Braza Grille nightclub.
The breakthrough in the cold case was announced by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Everett Police Chief Steven Mazzie, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office. Del-Rio has been indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on a slew of charges related to the shooting spree that claimed Berryman's life and injured another.
“The conduct that Henry Del-Rio is alleged to have engaged in outside the Braza Grille was outrageous and it ended in terrible tragedy. Ashlee Berryman, a completely innocent victim, was caught in a hail of gunfire and lost her life. The defendant is alleged to have randomly fired a gun over and over in a crowded parking lot, and unsurprisingly there was a terrible result,” District Attorney Ryan said in a statement.
The fateful events unfolded in the early hours of August 13, 2015, as Berryman supported her boyfriend at a concert. Del-Rio and his group, with ties to the East Side Money Gang, were also present. Following a verbal altercation in the parking lot, Del-Rio opened fire with a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, shooting nine times and accidentally striking Berryman, who succumbed to a gunshot wound to the back. Other bullets caused property damage, including one that penetrated a passing vehicle.
Despite the initial challenges, including the disposal of the murder weapon and the refusal of witnesses to come forward, relentless efforts by law enforcement and the recently established Cold Case Unit culminated in the leveling of charges against Del-Rio.“This is a great example of law enforcement not resting after all these years in pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Hopefully today’s charges send a message to those that think they can avoid being held accountable that we will follow up until justice is served,” said Everett Chief of Police Steven A. Mazzie.
Currently held in connection with a federal case, Del-Rio is expected to be arraigned at Middlesex Superior Court on a later date.
