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Man Charged In Double-Shooting Says He Acted In Self-Defense

A 20-year-old man who allegedly shot two people at a birthday party said he was acting in self-defense.

Justice

Justice

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On Wednesday, Dec. 30, John L. Guzman-Rivera, of Worcester, was arraigned in Central District Court. Assistant District Attorney Deanna Duffy said that Guzman-Rivera admitted to shooting two people on the night of the incident, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

Guzman-Rivera was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 23, around 2:30 a.m. after Worcester Police responded to a shot-spotter report indicating gunfire in the area of Buffum and Coes streets, police said.

Upon arrival, Duffy said police allegedly found Guzman-Rivera near the Coes Street home where he told officers “I had to do it, they jumped me.”

The shooting victims were a woman who had been shot in the stomach and a man who was shot three times in the chest. The man’s injuries were life-threatening.

Guzman-Rivera has been charged with:

  • Two counts of assault and battery by gun,
  • Two counts of armed assault to murder,
  • Use of a firearm in a felony,
  • Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling,
  • Possession of a firearm without an FID card,
  • Possession of a large-capacity firearm,
  • Possession of a large capacity feeding device,
  • And Possession of a loaded firearm without a license, police said.

Another man was also arrested in connection with the shooting - Jacob Rosa, a resident of 21 Coes St. Rosa has been charged with improperly storing a firearm, possession of a firearm without an FID card, and possession of ammunition without an FID card, police said.

Rosa’s lawyer said Wednesday that the shooting victims were Rosa’s friends attending a birthday party in his honor, according to the Telegram. Rosa did not know Guzman-Rivera.

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