David Carrasquillo

David Carrasquillo, a 30-year-old Hispanic/Latino man from Springfield, Massachusetts, was a talented and ambitious rap artist known to many as BossDawn. A father, son, and brother, he had made music his full-time career and was regarded by friends as one of the best rap artists in the city. A close friend remembered him as a great dad and a great friend who "motivated a lot of people." He was working on a new album and music video at the time of his death.

On the night of May 29, 2022, Carrasquillo was at the Saga Nightclub on Worthington Street in Springfield. At approximately 10:42 p.m., police responded to 911 calls reporting shots fired inside the club. Officers arrived to find Carrasquillo lying outside the men's restroom, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The nightclub's owner relinquished his licenses shortly after the shooting, and the venue has remained closed.

Investigators immediately began reviewing the nightclub’s surveillance footage. The video showed Carrasquillo entering the men's restroom, followed moments later by another man. Seconds later, the door flew open during what appeared to be a violent struggle, and Carrasquillo collapsed outside the restroom. The footage then captured the shooter stepping over Carrasquillo’s body, concealing a firearm under his shirt, and exiting the club. He fled in a white Chevy Cruze that was registered to a friend.

Detectives recovered fingerprints and documents belonging to Brandon Murray from the getaway vehicle. Using this evidence and records of his previous arrests, police identified Murray, a 38-year-old Springfield resident, as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued, and Murray was taken into custody on June 30, 2022.

Initially charged with murder, Brandon Murray was held without bail. On September 18, 2025, he appeared in Hampden Superior Court and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and carrying a firearm without a license. The plea also resolved two other unrelated cases against him. Carrasquillo’s family was present in court and delivered three powerful victim impact statements, sharing their enduring grief. The judge accepted the plea and sentenced Murray to serve 18 to 20 years in state prison.

In March 2025, Carrasquillo's estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former nightclub owners and several employees, including the manager and head of security. The lawsuit alleges negligence and improper training, citing security failures such as not using metal detectors or patting down patrons on the night of the shooting. The case was criminally resolved with Murray's sentencing in September 2025.