Second man convicted in Chiara Levin slaying

By John R. Ellement and Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff

A 35-year-old Dorchester man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for his role in the death of Chiara Levin, a young woman who was caught in the crossfire of a gun battle outside a house party in 2007.

Chiara Levin (Photo by Seema Singh)

Manuel "Spank" Andrade picked up Levin and two friends outside a Theater District nightclub and brought them to the party on Geneva Avenue in Dorchester, where he opened fire on two men, sparking the gunplay that took Levin's life on March 24, 2007, prosecutors said.

Casimiro Barros, who traded shots with Andrade, was convicted earlier this year of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

Levin, 22, was visiting from New York City for her great-aunt's 90th birthday, when she went to the Caprice Lounge on Tremont Street with her friends on the night of the shooting. They met Andrade and two of his friends there, and the group headed to a party at 415 Geneva Ave.

At the party, Andrade started yelling at another partygoer, Jason Barbosa. Andrade threw a plate of rice at Barbosa, who was a friend of Barros's, then shot him, wounding him in the shoulder. Barbosa fled, and Andrade followed him outside, with Barros in pursuit. Once outside, Barros began shooting at Andrade.

Levin was sitting in a Cadillac Escalade when Andrade, standing near the vehicle, and Barros fired at each other, police said. Levin was struck in the head by a bullet. Investigators said the bullet had been fired from Barros's 9mm pistol.

Prosecutors said Andrade was responsible in Levin's death, even though it was Barros who fired the fatal shot.