A 30-year-old gang member from Connecticut, D’Andre Burrus, has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his involvement in a 2018 drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a mother of four and left her friend paralyzed. The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the sentencing on Tuesday, as reported by Law and Crime on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Burrus’s sentencing comes as a result of his role in the gang-related violence that led to the tragic death of 30-year-old Fransua Guzman. In March, Burrus pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, acknowledging his participation in the 960 gang’s criminal activities, which included trafficking heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. As part of his plea, Burrus also confessed to conspiring to kill members of a rival gang in retaliation for the murder of one of his own gang members.
The tragic events unfolded in the early hours of October 11, 2018, when members of the 960 gang, seeking revenge for the death of one of their own, mistakenly targeted Fransua Guzman and her friend, Darlene Mazon, instead of a rival gang member. According to the Republican American, the gang members, who had been at a recording studio earlier that night, left in a black minivan and a stolen Hyundai before heading to Walnut Avenue. There, two gang members opened fire, fatally wounding Fransua and seriously injuring Darlene.
Fransua Guzman was struck in the head and later died at the hospital. Darlene Mazon survived but was left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Reflecting on the sentencing, Mazon shared her pain with the Republican American, stating, “I’m just happy they were caught. I suffer every day. I just want them to pay for what they did.”
Following the shooting, Burrus and other gang members showed a chilling disregard for human life. They took selfies and flaunted cash in a McDonald’s parking lot while rapping to the song “Take A Ride Through the Avenue.” This brazen behavior further underscored the callousness of the crime.
Fransua Guzman, a native of Puerto Rico, was remembered as a loving mother and a dedicated home health aide. Her obituary highlighted her compassionate nature and the impact she had on those she cared for. “During her short time on earth, Fransua attended to the needs of others as a home health aide,” the obituary stated. She is survived by her four children, Jarielene, Maximiliano, Michael, and Noah, as well as her mother, Arlene Cintron, and her sister, Jacqueline Morales.
The indictment against Burrus and 15 other gang members in 2021 detailed a string of violent incidents that preceded Fransua’s murder. These included a December 2017 shooting, two September 2018 shootings targeting rival homes, and an October 2019 assault on an individual suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.
The 960 gang, which originated in 2008 in Waterbury’s Long Hill Project area, has a long history of violence and intimidation. Court documents reveal that the gang uses various communication channels, including social media and music videos, to coordinate their activities and maintain their reputation. Members are expected to defend the gang’s name against rivals using any means necessary, including acts of violence and intimidation.
Burrus’s sentencing marks a significant step in holding those responsible for this senseless violence accountable, though the pain and loss experienced by the victims and their families will endure long after the court’s decision.