20-year-old man pleads guilty to murder in fatal 2021 Lawrence shooting

A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting a 25-year-old man in Lawrence in 2021, the office of Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker announced.

Adrian Corniel De La Cruz of Lawrence was 17 years old when he shot Edward Javier in May 2021, prosecutors said. Javier, of Lawrence, was found dead of gunshot wounds on Haverhill Street in Lawrence on May 14, 2021.

Corniel De La Cruz was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 19 years, Tucker's office said in a statement.

“We sincerely hope that the resolution of this case will provide some closure for Edward Javier's family,” Tucker said.

In addition to the murder charge, Corniel De La Cruz also pleaded guilty to numerous counts of assault related to violent incidents at the Essex County House of Correction. Following his murder conviction, he received an additional three years in prison, according to the statement.

Essex County Sheriff and House of Correction Superintendent Kevin Coppinger thanked Tucker's office for his “unwavering support in spreading the message that we will not tolerate any attack on our officers and that we are united when it comes to protecting law enforcement.”

Another man, Angel Paredes, a co-defendant in the murder trial, is due to go on trial on November 6. He is accused of aiding and abetting, assaulting a police officer and intimidating witnesses, the statement said.