Massachusetts teen gunned down just before graduation remembered as teen who killed him is sentenced to prison

A Massachusetts man was sentenced today for fatally shooting a 17-year-old boy in 2020, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said.

Jaylen Wallace, 22, of Stoughton, was sentenced by Judge Peter B. Krupp in Norfolk Superior Court to a total of 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, armed assault with intent to rob, and carrying a firearm without a license.

After Wallace completes his prison sentence, he will be on probation for three years.

During the change of plea hearing today, Wallace admitted to shooting 17-year-old Christian Vines of Randoph on July 21, 2020. Vines was found in a car in a parking lot at 31 Jones Terrance in Stoughton where he arranged to meet Wallace, who was 16 at the time.

Vines was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton where he was pronounced deceased.

“We hope Mr. Vines’ family and friends can find closure and heal after this tragic and senseless act of violence,” Morrissey said.

According to family, Vines “was a star basketball player at Avon High School, where he was very popular and had lots of friends. He was a very kind and considerate person. As popular as he was, no one was beneath him. He always took the time to talk to others. Unfortunately, Christian was 3 weeks shy of his high school graduation when his life was cut short; his mom and older sister accepted his diploma. At the graduation, a special needs student and his mom told Christian’s mom and sister about how kind Christian was to him, always asking if he was okay and occasionally sitting with him at lunch. That made the young man feel special. It was the type of person Christian was. He was a caring soul.”

District Attorney Morrissey praised Assistant District Attorneys Jennifer Blair, Christopher Cook and Danielle Piccarini who prosecuted the case and Victim-Witness Advocate Kristen Collins for assisting the victim’s family through the court process.  He also lauded the Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and the Stoughton Police for their diligent investigation.