Fall River and New Bedford men found guilty of murdering Taunton man

After a 6-day jury trial in the Fall River Superior Court, Jerome Middleton of Fall River and Khaylon Cruz of New Bedford were convicted late Thursday afternoon of First-Degree Murder (under theories of extreme atrocity and cruelty and felony murder) and Armed Robbery for the brutal slaying of Justin Paulo on January 5, 2019, in the City of Taunton, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

On January 5, 2019, at approximately 11:00 p.m., the Taunton Police were dispatched to 9 Wilson Street for a male being attacked in the yard.  The male who was attacked was identified as 31-year-old Justin Paulo, who had been transported from the scene by family members. Paulo had been stabbed and robbed of his gold chain.  He was pronounced deceased a short time after arrival at Rhode Island Hospital. 

Surveillance video from a ring doorbell camera at 9 Wilson Street captured significant portions of the attack committed by two suspects who were later identified as, at the time, 24-year-old Khaylon Cruz and 19-year-old Jerome Middleton.  Both defendants fled the scene but reconnected a short time later at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, where Middleton initially had gone for medical treatment he sustained as a result of the attack on Justin Paulo.  Both defendants left Charlton Memorial Hospital together. 

A knife was recovered from the crime scene which contained the DNA of both Justin Paulo and defendant, Jerome Middleton.   

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Walsh and Jason Mohan.

Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for November 20, 2024, at 2:00 in the Fall River Superior Court before Superior Court Justice Rene Dupuis. 

“I am pleased the jury held both defendants accountable for this senseless and brutal killing,” District Attorney Quinn said.