International fugitive convicted of Christmas Eve murder in Massachusetts

An international fugitive was convicted of second-degree murder for his role in a Christmas Eve murder outside a nightclub in 1999 in Massachusetts.

In 1999, Worcester police received several calls reporting shots fired at the Tropigala nightclub on Main Street on Dec. 24, and found two people suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim, later identified as Danny Guzman, 24, died at a hospital while the other victim recovered.

Officials said the bullet that killed Guzman was meant for someone else, according to the Worcester Telegram.

Police determined Edwin Novas, the gunman, had an argument with one of the victims earlier in the evening and waited outside the club to settle the dispute.

Authorities said Novas fled to his native country in the Dominican Republic and remained free until 2017, when he was arrested.

A Worcester County grand jury indicted Novas on Jan. 16, 2002, on charges of murder, armed assault to murder, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a firearm without an FID card and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon

Novas was convicted of second-degree murder afternoon by a Massachusetts Superior Court jury last week, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

The jury also found Novas guilty of armed assault and battery with intent to murder, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing ammunition without an FID card, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

“I want to thank the victim’s family for their patience,” Early said in a statement. “We hope the verdicts have brought them some closure and measure of justice.”

Early also thanked the U.S. Marshal Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., who helped get Novas out of the Dominican Republic.