Two men convicted in Taunton stabbing murder

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Two men were convicted Thursday at Fall River Superior Court in a 2019 Taunton stabbing death, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.

Khaylon Cruz and Jerome Middleton were found guilty of first-degree murder (under theories of extreme atrocity and cruelty and felony murder) and armed robbery. 

The incident occurred on January 5, 2019 when Taunton police were called to a Wilson Street home for a male being attacked in the yard.

Justin Paulo, 31, was robbed of his gold chain and stabbed and transported from the scene by family members.

He was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at Rhode Island Hospital.

A large portion of the attack was recorded by a doorbell camera at the Wilson Street residence, from which both defendants fled.

They met each other a short time later at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River where Middleton had sought medical treatment for injuries he sustained during the attack.

Cruz and Middleton left the hospital together, and a knife was recovered from the crime scene containing DNA from both the victim Paulo and Middleton.

Cruz and Middleton will be sentenced on November 20 at 2 p.m. in Fall River Superior Court.