Springfield man who killed over insult to Latin Kings gang in 1992 granted parole
A man who shot and killed another man over an insult to the Latin Kings gang in Springfield 32 years ago will be granted parole from his life sentence in prison.
Hector Arriaga shot Arnaldo Esteras three times the night of Sept. 13, 1992, in Springfield, after a leader in the Latin Kings gang — which Arriaga was affiliated with at the time — decided Esteras should be "terminated."
Earlier that afternoon, Esteras had been on the corner of Main and Sheldon Streets in Springfield with two of his friends when a member of the gang, Ismael Cintron, walked by on his way to a grocery store.
As he passed by, Esteras told Cintron, "'Take off the [expletive] beads or tuck them in your jacket." Cintron had been wearing his "'Latin Kings' beads" at the time.
One of the friends with Esteras also threatened to give Cintron an "[expletive] whipping" if he did not take the beads off, which he did by the time he left the grocery store.
Cintron "viewed the insult to his beads as publicly humiliating and requiring retaliation to 'regain respect' on the street," according to a narrative of the case. He went to the local "Latin Kings" headquarters to "report" the incident, which led members — including its vice-president — to decide to kill Esteras in response.
Arriaga — who was 20 years old at the time — was "dispatched" on the "mission" alongside Cintron, in dark hooded sweatshirts. Arriaga had a folding knife, while Cintron had gun.
But as the duo approached Esteras that night, who was sitting with his friends on the hood of a car on Main Street at 9:15 p.m., Cintron decided he could not shoot him.
Arriaga then took the gun from Cintron, gave him the knife and shot Esteras in the chest from four feet away. Esteras rolled off the hood and tried to run, but he tripped and fell.
Arriaga continued after him and fired twice more.
Esteras died from two gunshot wounds to the head and one to his chest in the emergency room of a Springfield hospital about 15 minutes later.
Arriaga handed the gun back to Cintron as they returned to their getaway car, and Cintron emptied the shells and wiped off finger prints as a third man drove them away. The men went to Hartford, Conn., where they cleaned the car, threw away its stolen registration plate and their sweatshirts, then buried the gun in a park.
Arriaga, Cintron and the driver were arrested after Springfield police officers interviewed witnesses who identified Cintron. Investigators later found the gun and sweatshirts, and Arriaga told police that he'd been trying to rob Esteras when he killed him.
Arriaga, now 52 years old, has been incarcerated for 32 years. A parole board hearing held on Sept. 23 considered that he was 20 at the time of his conviction, which parole board members say is a "unique aspect" considered in this case.
"Individuals who were emerging adults at the time of the offense must be afforded a 'meaningful opportunity' to obtain release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation," the parole board stated.
Arriaga renounced his ties to the "Latin Kings" in 2010 and has maintained his sobriety, has served as a program facilitator, been involved in Restorative Justice programs, learned to write in English and has been employed as a janitor since 2019.
He was also "empathetic and insightful" during his hearing, the parole board said. Two of his friends and his brother testified in his support.
After spending the next 120 days in a lower security facility, special conditions of Arriaga's release include electronic monitoring for six months, supervision on drugs and alcohol abstinence, no contact with Esteras' family and mandatory mental and rehabilitation treatment.
More on the Massachusetts Parole Board
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