Two men sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempted murder of a woman in Capotillo

Santo Domingo.– The Second Collegiate Court of the National District sentenced two men to 30 years in prison after finding them guilty of attempting to murder a woman during a shooting attack that occurred on March 9, 2025, in the Ensanche Capotillo sector, an incident in which a man and a 16-year-old teenager were also wounded.

The convicted individuals are Ángel Gabriel Aquino Acevedo (Chocho) and Juan Méndez Pérez (Chombo or Chon), who were found guilty of the attempted murder of María Teresa Núñez (Maira Soco).

The sentence was issued by the Second Collegiate Court of the National District, after the Public Ministry presented testimonial, documentary, expert, illustrative, and audiovisual evidence that demonstrated the criminal responsibility of both defendants.

In justifying the decision, Judge Clara Sobeyda Castillo explained that the evidence made it possible to destroy the presumption of innocence of the defendants and to establish, beyond any reasonable doubt, that they planned the attack with the objective of taking the victim’s life.

We recommend reading: Student leader Ángel Luis Reyes arrested; his father denounces political persecution

The magistrate pointed out that the crime was not consummated because María Teresa Núñez managed to protect herself during the attack. However, the shots hit a man and a 16-year-old teenager who were at the scene.

The court also took into account the gravity of the events, the planning of the attack, and the danger posed to the people present, establishing that the attackers continued firing even when the victim threw themselves to the ground to protect their life.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judges ordered the forfeiture of the firearm used in the attack in favor of the Dominican State and ordered the defendants to pay the legal costs.

In the civil sphere, the court ratified the victim’s status as a civil party and ordered those responsible to pay compensation of RD$5 million, in addition to civil costs.

Research

According to the Public Ministry’s investigation, led by prosecutor Vidalis Mora, of the Department of Crimes and Offenses against the Person (Homicides), the attack occurred around 10:30 at night on March 9, 2025.

The investigations establish that, before the attack, those now convicted went to the home of Willy Féliz Vásquez, in the La Zurza sector, to offer him RD$100,000 in exchange for participating in the crime. After refusing, both headed through the alleys that connect La Zurza with Capotillo.

Upon arriving in the vicinity of the WhatsApp Drink establishment, owned by the victim, they waited until the victim was at the location and opened fire on them.

The sentence must be served at the La Victoria Penitentiary Center, where both were already being held in pretrial detention.