PHILADELPHIA - Alexander Murillo, a/k/a “Alexander Murillo-Barquero,” 27, of Morrisville, North Carolina, was sentenced today to the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. On New Year’s Eve 2008, Murillo was at Tom Foolery’s Bar, on the 7500 block of Castor Avenue in Philadelphia, when he shot a Bushmaster, Model XM15-E2S,.223 Caliber AR-15 style rifle into a crowd standing outside the bar striking two individuals, shooting each three times.

U.S. District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez remarked that the maximum sentence was warranted because Murillo created a substantial risk to many people by shooting multiple times into a crowd. The two victims who were shot required medical attention. One victim suffered serious injury from a bullet that could not be removed from his leg.

The defendant pleaded guilty May 10, 2010 to the single count in the indictment but still faces trial in state court for attempted murder stemming from the same incident. In addition to the maximum prison term, Judge Sanchez ordered Murillo to pay a fine of $1,500, a $100 special assessment, and serve three years of supervised release. Murillo’s legal status will be determined by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after completion of his prison sentence.

The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ewald Zittlau and Melanie Babb Wilmoth.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525

 

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