Copyright MassLive
A Massachusetts man came into prison as a “stone cold killer‚” according to the Massachusetts Parole Board. Now, he believes he’s changed. But the parole board isn’t ready to give him a second chance outside prison walls. Jonathan Carvalho was denied parole on Nov. 5 with the plans to have another parole board hearing in three years. Carvalho was 20 when he shot and killed 29-year-old Luis Raul Rodriguez on Aug. 10, 2010. Carvalho was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Carvalho, now 35, went in front of the parole board for the first time on June 16. He talked about how he had shot multiple people — some in the face. And on a summer night in 2010, he killed an unarmed man. His intent was always “shoot to kill,” he told the parole board. “It’s chilling,” a parole board member responded. They also talked about Carvalho’s childhood, what led up to the shooting, his time in prison and how he believes he’s changed. “I learned that I could have walked away at that moment. When I’m pulling the trigger, I have full free will to stop, and I didn’t,” he said. But that wasn’t enough for the parole board, noting that he had “engaged in minimal programs and continues to exhibit concerning behavior.” Carvalho’s childhood When Carvalho’s mom met his stepfather, the family moved to Chelsea. That’s where he was introduced to gangs and frequent fighting. He began drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis. Later, he moved to cocaine and joined the violent gang the “Bloods.” His parents, teachers, community leaders and basketball coaches were all concerned with the road he was going down. But he didn’t listen. He said he was being “an idiot, being a moron, being a knucklehead, not listening to people, thinking I had the answers, being delusional, thinking I could just gang bang and sell drugs and not have to worry about getting a career,” he said. By the time he was 15, he was threatening to shoot people. He started carrying a gun and dropped out of school in 10th grade. During his time in the gang, he shot at people multiple times, sometimes hitting them in the face and stomach. He had been incarcerated multiple times and became a “general” in the gang, having influence over new recruits. He believed as a leader in the gang, he needed to not just ask lower ranking people to do the crimes but he had “lead by example.” “‘Death before disarmament’ was a slogan that I would use often,” he recalled. But it wasn’t until the fight with Rodriguez that he killed someone. “I was vicious. I was atrocious. I was a monster. I was evil, arrogant, inconsiderate, unmerciful,” he said. “I could have stopped shooting him, and I didn’t.” Carvalho recalled the fight happening after Rodriguez had been threatening him. Carvalho called the fight to settle things. “He came to that fight thinking it was a fistfight, but he walked into an ambush,” Assistant District Attorney Amy Galatis previously said, according to the Chelsea Record. “Mr. Rodriguez never touched Mr. Carvalho. Mr. Rodriguez never threw a punch.” The two started the fight by circling each other. Carvalho remembers Rodriguez taunting him to shoot his gun. “As a gang banger at the time, I was indoctrinated that if anybody challenged me to squeeze a gun, I need to make an example out of him. And that’s what I did,” he said. Carvalho shot Rodriguez five times, including in the back and to his face, the news outlet reported. The district attorney’s office said evidence proves Rodriguez was trying to run away when he was shot multiple times. Rodriguez had just learned he was going to be a father — a moment that should have marked excitement and a new beginning. But Carvalho saw none of that. To him, he said, Rodriguez’s life meant nothing. In prison While incarcerated, Carvalho has focused on his education and faith as a Sunni Muslim. Carvalho has earned two degrees since 2010, a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Minnesota and another degree from Boston College. One of his Boston College professors described him as having “patience and generosity in working with his peers and provides an example of excellence.” “I hope that I can be that type of person,” he told the parole board. He’s also been working with legislators through the Black Latino Asian Cultural Coalition at MCI-Shirley. Through the organization they talk about bills regarding prison reform and help inform the public. However, he’s also faced multiple disciplinary actions in the past two years. Overall, he’s had 26 disciplinary issues. Carvalho believes looking at only those situations doesn’t account for the amount of violence he’s faced with daily. Every day he has to avoid going back to being in a gang, respecting authority and not fighting. “I believe on the education unit, I’m a great leader there. I believe I’m a great community member. I’m helpful to my peers. I help others with their homework. I translate to people who speak multiple languages. I de-escalate violence and conflicts almost daily inside of prison,” he said. One of the parole board members was concerned with his lack of rehabilitative programming. “I don’t sense much remorse or much empathy from you. I sense a lot of focus on self and your education,” the parole board member said. “Basically, it seems as if you’re approaching this from a very selfish perspective. I don’t hear much concern for the victim’s family, anything about what you took away, potential he had, or anything like that, or any need to make amends for any of that.” But Carvalho doesn’t feel the need to make amends. Instead, he wants the family to see how he’s changed, which he believes he has. “I’m hoping and praying that parole works,” he said. That wasn’t enough for the parole board. “I want you to be objective, not hope and pray. What do you think? Step outside of yourself and look at the history you presented us. You came in as a stone cold killer. You’ve already told us you’ve shot at multiple individuals. You killed one,” the parole board member said. “... what do you think of your candidacy at this point?” Carvalho believes he’s changed. Forgiveness Rodriguez is remembered as a caring man, who was loved by all. His death broke his family. “I felt lost. I felt lonely,” Rodriguez’s sister-in-law said during the June parole board hearing. “It wasn’t easy. But with the love of the family, we made sure that they had everything, regardless if he was gone or not.” Still, she forgives Carvalho, citing her own faith. “As a daughter of a King, I just want to say that I forgive him,” she said. “But I also want him to know that God knows the true intentions behind someone’s heart.” Rodriguez’ brother – also named Luis – knew Carvalho prior to the shooting. During Carvalho’s sentencing, Rodriguez’s brother told the court and Carvalho that he “loved him.” Nearly 15 years later, he reminded him of that. “He intentionally killed my brother ... and still with that, Jonathan, I said I love you and I hope that God does work his magic on you, man,” he said. He said he believes in God’s grace but that he has has to face the consequences of his actions and truly make changes. “You’re extremely selfish and you need to work on yourself still,” he said. Another one of Rodriguez’s family members said she believes in second chances, including for Carvalho — when he’s ready. “I didn’t feel a lot of empathy. I didn’t hear any accountability — dancing around the questions when it got hard. And I didn’t hear anything about mental health ... I don’t feel that there’s enough remorse. I don’t feel that. Those just seem like a lot of excuses,” she said. One day she believes Carvalho will be ready to leave prison, living a full life with a job and a family of his own. Something Rodriguez never got to have. “And when the day comes for Jonathan to come out, then great, we wish him well,” she said. “But we don’t think he’s ready.”
