Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the murder and armed robbery of Justin Paulo, a case that dates back to January 5, 2019, in Taunton. Jerome Middleton and Khaylon Cruz were previously found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery by a jury earlier this month, according to TurnTo10.
As per a report from MassLive, Cruz received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder, and a concurrent six to 10-year sentence for the armed robbery. Middleton has been handed a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years, and a six to 10-year term for the armed robbery charge. He is currently already serving time for a separate, unrelated armed robbery conviction.
TurnTo10 reports further indicated that the murder of Paulo was particularly violent, with the assailants robbing Paulo for his gold chain and subsequently stabbing him. Following the attack, Paulo was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by family members, but he did not survive the inflicted injuries.
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, stressed the heinous nature of the crime. "This was a brutal murder that occurred during a violent armed robbery in which the victim resisted his attackers," Quinn said in a statement obtained by MassLive. He noted that, "A good portion of the incident was captured on a Ring doorbell camera which highlights the critical importance of technology in solving violent crimes."
