June 8, 2026 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni has announced Luis Rodriguez-Cruz, 32, of Springfield, has pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Efrain Cosme, of Springfield, in August 2024.

On Friday, May 29, 2026, the defendant was sentenced to 16 to 18 years in state prison.

Rodriguez-Cruz was also charged with carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a loaded gun. Those charges will be served concurrently with the Manslaughter charge.

At approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 11, 2024, Rodriguez-Cruz and Cosme were on the porch of an apartment building at the corner of State and Terrance streets in Springfield. The defendant and Cosme began arguing over drugs and money, which further escalated into a physical altercation.

During the altercation, the defendant was armed with a knife, and Cosme was not armed. Rodriguez-Cruz used the knife to stab Cosme 13 times before fleeing the scene.

Springfield Police officers and paramedics arrived on the scene and began to treat Cosme, before transporting him to Baystate Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The victims autopsy results concluded that 10 of the stab wounds were superficial, and three were determined to be fatal. The three fatal wounds were to his neck, torso, and left upper extremity.

On August 13, 2024, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Springfield Police located Rodriguez-Cruz driving a vehicle and followed him to a parking lot on Main Street. The defendant parked and exited his vehicle, and while he was walking away from the vehicle, Springfield Police placed him under arrest.

When police searched the defendant, officers found a 9mm firearm in his waistband. The firearm was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. The defendant did not have a valid license to carry a firearm.

“This plea holds the defendant accountable for a violent act that took another person’s life,” said District Attorney Gulluni. “Far too often, disputes that could have ended another way instead result in irreversible loss. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family as they continue to cope with the profound impact of this tragedy.”

The Commonwealth was represented by Assistant District Attorney Christopher McDonald and Victim Witness Advocate Kristin Welch.