LAWRENCE — A 28-year-old Lawrence man has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Christopher “Bebo” Garcia in 2023.
According to a statement from the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, on Monday, the defendant, Hector Raul Aybar Soto, was found guilty by an Essex County Superior Court jury in connection with the deadly encounter that began as a minor traffic dispute and ended in gunfire.
The charges stem from a March 17, 2023 incident in Lawrence. Authorities say that, after a minor traffic dispute, Aybar Soto followed Garcia to a Walnut Street address and shot him.
After several 911 calls reporting the incident, Lawrence police responded to the scene, where they located Garcia, who had suffered from a gunshot wound that ultimately proved fatal.
After the jury returned its verdict, Judge Elizabeth Dunigan sentenced Aybar Soto to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years.
The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
