WASHINGTON — A 31-year-old D.C. man will spend the next several decades in prison for the shooting death of 17-year-old Brayan Villatoro back in 2021.
Mussay Rezene was sentenced on Saturday for first-degree murder while armed for a deadly shooting that took place in an alley in Northwest, D.C. Rezene was found guilty in January following a jury trial.
According to investigators, at 9 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2021, Villatoro was riding in a car with a group of friends heading to a family party. On the way, he asked the driver to make a stop so he could meet up with someone on Nicholson Street, Northwest. Once they got to the location, Villatoro got out of the car and waited in front of an apartment building.
A man, later identified as Rezene, arrived a short time later in a car later proved to be stolen. Rezene led Villatoro into a nearby alley where moments later, shots rang out, and the 17-year-old was hit with eight bullets. Rezene fled the area as did the Villatoro's friends after the shooting.
Officers arrived on scene after the shooting to find Villatoro had died from his injuries,
Police identified Rezene in surveillance video as a suspect. He was seen wearing distinct shoes and clothing. These same shoes were later seen in a photograph of Rezene along with two other individuals, which was posted on social media after Villatoro’s murder. Cell-phone data also showed Rezene was present both at the scene of the murder and along the path of the stolen car.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives who assisted with evidence recovery and cell site data analysis and testimony.
WATCH NEXT:
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.
