A man who killed a bouncer at a nightclub in Boston nearly 20 years ago will remain behind bars after he covered up a fight in prison.
Oscar Rosa, 35, was convicted in February 2008 of fatally stabbing Craig Viera, 32, and was sentenced to life in prison. Wednesday marked the second time Rosa was denied parole after an initial attempt in 2022.
On Nov. 26, 2006, Rosa, who was 20 at the time, had been at the Embassy Nightclub — now known as the House of Blues in Fenway — with his friends. The group was denied entry to a restricted area of the club because of their age, and were asked to leave after some members began “acting immature” on the dance floor.
Rosa was drunk, and was physically restrained by security officers as he was removed from the club. Viera tried to de-escalate the situation, and that’s when Rosa stabbed him in the abdomen and ran from the scene.
Viera was brought to the hospital and though he was allowed to go home in the following days, he died on Dec. 6, 2006 from his injuries.
Rosa told the parole board in 2022 that he felt angry and violent at the time of Viera’s killing, and he said that was due to his upbringing in a racist neighborhood and abuse from his father.
Board members noted at that time that Rosa had garnered multiple disciplinary reports during his incarceration, including having homemade alcohol and assaulting another inmate in 2019. Rosa does not have any mental health complications, but does have some intellectual disabilities that board members had taken into consideration.
Though Rosa has since been participating in rehabilitative programming, the board decided against parole Wednesday because he still struggles with substance misuse, disciplinary reports and had concealed a fight in prison.
Rosa’s mother and cousin appeared in support of Rosa’s parole, while Viera’s mother, two friends and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office were in opposition.
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