Somerville man gets life sentence for Sullivan murder

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville man pled guilty to second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison today for the 2004 murder of 16 year old Ryan Sullivan.

Van Gustave, 26, was charged with murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Judge Jane Haggerty sentenced him to life in prison with possibility for parole after 15 years.

He was also sentenced to serve a concurrent term in state prison of 10-12 years for the attack of Jules Stevens and seven to eight years in state prison for the attack of William Tighe.

Another Somerville man, Joseph Spinucci, was found guilty of murder in the first degree by a Middlesex Superior Court jury and sentenced to life in prison June 22 in connection with the same incident.

“These senseless incidents caused the death and serious injury of these young men who tragically just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Middlesex County District Attorney Gerard T. Leone said. “It was important that both men be held accountable for their horrific actions and these murder convictions and life sentences do just that.”

Somerville Police responded to a report of a stabbing on Warwick Street  at approximately 11:10 p.m. on July 1, 2004  and encountered three male victims all suffering stab wounds. Sullivan and Stevens, 17, of Somerville, were both transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Sullivan was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital. Stevens was treated and later released.   

The third victim, Tighe, 19, also of Somerville, was transported to Somerville Hospital, where he was treated and released.  Somerville Police contacted State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, and they immediately began an investigation.  Authorities believe that Gustave and Spinucci became embroiled in a verbal altercation with Tighe, which escalated and ultimately resulted in the stabbings.

Gustave and Spinucci, 27, were both arrested the next day without incident. They were both arraigned in Somerville District Court and charged with three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Charges against the two men were upgraded to murder on July 7, 2004. At arraignment both defendants pled not guilty, and they were ordered held without bail. 

They were indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury Sept. 9, 2004. 

Spinucci was found guilty of murder in the first degree by a Middlesex Superior Court jury and sentenced to life in prison by Judge Paul Chernoff on June 22, 2006. He was also sentenced to serve a concurrent 9-10 years for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury to be followed by another seven to eight year sentence for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. 

Comments

[Ron Newman]

Did this happen on Warwick Street, or did it happen on the bike path? These are two different places.

[Johnny Protester]

Warwick near the corner of Cedar. Opp. the laundry place.

[Neil MacNevin]

Don't worry too much for those guys. With good behavior and the vagaries of the laws they'll be out on the street and looking for victims before you know it.

[noone]

it's just sad, so so sad, that some thing like this had to happen.....joe and vin arent even the type of people who would do some shit like that....but there all done now!! that shit was crazy that poor boys life was taken from him so quickly over nothing ...and the two slut ass hoes who got off with this shit needs to rot in hell beside the others...why didnt any action get taken on them? it started because of them...i hope some body gets them they will feel pain some day ...i hope there hurting rite now knowing there never see there men agin!! and billy let me not go there!!! punk ass little bitch!!

[noone]

it's just sad, so so sad, that some thing like this had to happen.....joe and vin arent even the type of people who would do some shit like that....but there all done now!! that shit was crazy that poor boys life was taken from him so quickly over nothing ...and the two slut ass hoes who got off with this shit needs to rot in hell beside the others...why didnt any action get taken on them? it started because of them...i hope some body gets them they will feel pain some day ...i hope there hurting rite now knowing there never see there men agin!! and billy let me not go there!!! punk ass little bitch!!

[curious]

I was just curious as to if this is the same Joe Spinuicci who lived on Highland Ave in woburn? If he didn't live there did his family?

[Good]

I find it disgusting that the Judge would issue concurrent sentences for the attacks on Suullivan, Steveson and Tighe. It is obvious that the intent of those convicted was to ultimately inflict permanent damage on two high schoolers almost a decade younger than them.

I am sure Pat Jehlen will do her best to keep these criminals out of jail instead doing what is right and supporting tougher mandatory sentencing laws for violent offenders. She opposes just about every measure to improve public safety in our community but the electorate keeps voting for her. It is shame that we do not have strong, quality leadership in the City.

There are not enough cops on the street as is. The low staffing levels are well documented here in Somerville, and the Police Officers are screaming for help.

I think that it is time to look at the issues that really matter: tax releif, education and public safety and focus less on the feel good bullshit that we have been fed.

[Good]

I find it disgusting that the Judge would issue concurrent sentences for the attacks on Suullivan, Steveson and Tighe. It is obvious that the intent of those convicted was to ultimately inflict permanent damage on two high schoolers almost a decade younger than them.

I am sure Pat Jehlen will do her best to keep these criminals out of jail instead doing what is right and supporting tougher mandatory sentencing laws for violent offenders. She opposes just about every measure to improve public safety in our community but the electorate keeps voting for her. It is shame that we do not have strong, quality leadership in the City.

There are not enough cops on the street as is. The low staffing levels are well documented here in Somerville, and the Police Officers are screaming for help.

I think that it is time to look at the issues that really matter: tax releif, education and public safety and focus less on the feel good bullshit that we have been fed.

[Murder]

bread and water for you you murderer

[Cavalier]

I feel really sorry for those killers. I'm sure their parents will tell you they are really good kids....and, blame someone else for getting them in trouble. They'll say the usual things like...... They were turning their lives around.....While in prison, of course they'll get religion to impress the parole board. They might even learn to read.

[Friend of Ryan]

It happend on Warrick street not the bike path. The night it happend when I went down at 3am to see the yellow police tape was on Warrick st not the bike path. Come on Somerville news you have the pictures of it on Warrick street from that weeks news. I still have the artical. Why are you saying it's the bike trail now two years later.

[Ron Newman]

Warwick, not Warrick

[Unreal]

I think your comment that Jules was 'treated and released' completely misses the facts. He nearly died, was hospitalized for about a month, and lost his spleen (I believe his kidney was also severly damaged). He'll never be the same physically, and possibly not emotionally. Unlike Tighe who (knew how to fight?) and truly was 'treated and released'!
And Ron, please lighten up on the ever-present corrections. This is obviously a kid who's hurting - we all know how to spell the name of the street. Let it go.

[Learn to spell]

The guy criticized the News for poor editorial standards. It is reasonable to expect him to get it right. Saying the News has "pictures of it on Warrick street" is only asking for ridicule.

[Noone's Perfect]

I can't believe people are giving some poor kid a hard time because he typed an 'r' instead of a 'w' (a common mistake by the way when you're typing quickly). Get a life, guys!

[Poor kid is an idiot]

Typing an r instead of a w is no common mistake for a kid who lives on Spencer. He is just another illiterate Somerville High grad. Get used to it or move to Billerica.

[curious]

Did Spinucci live in Woburn or at least have family there? Thanks I really need to find out.

[Kate]

Here's the original story:
July 07, 2004
Triple stabbing on Warwick St. leaves Sullivan dead

by Nicholas J. Pinto-Wong, Contributing Editor

Two Somerville men pleaded not guilty July 2 at the Somerville District Courthouse to charges of assault and battery and armed assault with intent to murder after a fight the prior evening that left two youths wounded and Ryan Sullivan, 16, dead from stab wounds.

Joseph Spinucci, 25, and Van Louis Gustave, 24, at the request of their lawyers, listened to the charges from a stairwell concealed from the gallery to prevent their identification.

The conflict began when Gustave and Spinucci were walking with two women down Cedar Street at approximately 11 p.m. At the corner of Warwick Street, the four encountered William Tighe, 19, who exchanged words with one of the women, said Christopher Walsh, a Middlesex county assistant district attorney.

Tighe had been released from prison that same day, after serving a year-long sentence for attempted unarmed robbery, assault and battery, and a civil rights violation, according to court records. The charges, to which Tighe pleaded guilty, stemmed from a Sept. 13, 2003, incident in Kenny Park. Tighe attempted to rob a teenage lesbian couple, then spit in their faces and beat them while calling them derogatory names.

As Tighe’s exchange with the woman escalated, she struck at him, and Spinucci and Gustave attacked him with knives, Walsh said. Around the same time, Sullivan and Jules Stevens, 17, students at Somerville High School, arrived on the scene and became involved in the conflict.

Tighe’s father, who lives on Warwick Street, heard the commotion and came out onto the street, where he saw Spinucci standing over Sullivan and striking him while Gustave did the same to Stevens, Walsh said. Tighe’s father pushed the two away, and they fled.

When police arrived on the scene they found Sullivan and Stevens suffering from stab wounds. The two were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where Sullivan died of his wounds. Stevens remains there in critical condition, Walsh said. Tighe was admitted to Somerville Hospital for stab wounds in his back, but was discharged shortly thereafter.

Eyewitnesses to the incident identified Spinucci and Gustave, Walsh said, and both men had been seen with knives earlier in the day. When police arrested them, the men had wounds on their hands consistent with slipping down the blade of a knife as it is thrust.

Prosecutors are still deciding whether to bring the additional charge of murder against one or both defendants, Walsh said.

The district attorney’s office is asking that the defendants be denied bail. Gustave has an outstanding warrant for assault and battery in Dorchester, and Spinucci has a minor criminal record as well, Walsh said.

The presiding judge, Maurice R. Flynn III, set a hearing for July 7 at 9 a.m. at the Somerville District Courthouse to determine whether the defendants will be held without bail.

After the arraignment, Sullivan’s uncle, Brian Sullivan, read a short statement to the assembled press, asking for their restraint with the Sullivan family in their time of crisis.

Outside the courthouse, Capt. Daniel R. Matthews, chief of detectives for the Somerville Police, said the stabbings were not gang-related.

“This was just a few neighborhood youths,” he said.

Matthews said it was possible that Sullivan, whom he identified as a friend of Tighe’s, had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone met with police and city officials the morning of the arraignment to discuss a response to the previous night’s events, said Mark Horan, communications director for the mayor.

“There was some concern from the police about preventing any kind of retaliation,” Horan said. “We’re not dealing with gangs here, but groups of associated youths

[JA]

To clarify something that was questioned in one of the posts:

The two girls involved were granted immunity under the condition that they provide information regarding that night and testify during the court proceedings. I know there are more specific details that go along with it, but that was the bottom line. That's why neither of them can be tried or convicted even though they admitted to taking part in various aspects of the evening, but in the end it MAY have been to everybody's benefit because the testimonies potentially helped the jury decide to convict Spinucci and so forth. We'll never really know either way, but I agree that is completely sickening and unfortunate that regardless of the circumstances they are both walking free today.

Take care.

[John F. Farr]

Comments
Try walking around this city with your girlfriend any given night and watch what happens. Some tough guy herb is always there to try and test you. I feel terrible for the families of everyone involved in this unfortunate event. It really stinks that you have to arm yourself just to walk around all over Boston. Maybe this time a weapon was used on the good-samaritan trying to help his odviously troubled friend (Tighe) but having grown up in the same areas as these guys I can honestly say that the knives in question were probably meant for self-defense from people like this Tighe character. Growing up even the toughest kids had guns and knives because of gang violence and the threat of armed robbery. We used to say "better to be caught with it (a weapon) than without it." I know for a fact that Mr. Gustave had been the victim of armed robberies and racial violence several times in his youth when he really was NOT provoking anyone. No one went out that night looking for trouble, except probably Tighe. Didn't he just get out of jail that same day for a robbery/hate crime? What was his problem? Let me guess Tighe is white, Gustave is black and Gustave's girlfriend is white. That must have sparked that racial hatred which ultimatley ended in a young life lost. I'm glad Tighe was deemed "rehabilitated" enough to be granted his freedom from the state while Mr. Gustave will now spend his daughters formative years seeing her through bars and plexiglas. I'm not saying he's innocent but I am saying is the families from all sides should try to be there for one another to show how bad this hurts everyone. The police need to step it too. If we had more cops like the McCains still out there talking to the kids in the neighborhoods, checking in the on the ex-cons more tragedy's like this could be avoided. We must be better parents, better citizens, and learn to stop letting the color of our skin be reason to start trouble. Thank you my condolences to all.

[truth]

i think all these post are pretty much bull...if you knew ryan and the type of person he was or let along were there that night you would understand what it feels like.Ryan Henrey Andrew Sullivan was an amazing person who was taken from his family and his friends, so all you people feeling sorry for joe and vinny, go shed some tears because at least they are still here. and as for the 2 scumbag girls involved they should experience real pain because its what they deserve, they shouldnt be walking the streets like innocent people because they are far from it. kicking a 16 year old when hes down there real tough, they'll all get what they deserve though.