HYANNIS SHOOTING TWIST: Charges Dropped as Alleged Victim ‘May...

Above HN image: 18-year-old Evan Araujo (left) of Hyannis and 19-year-old Jacob Winbush (right) of Hyannis at their October 20, 2025, arraignment on Assault to Murder, Armed with a Firearm, along with other firearm related charges.

BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS – In a stunning reversal, Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois has filed a Nolle Prosequi, effectively dropping all charges against two Hyannis men accused of shooting a 28-year-old woman last month. New evidence suggests the woman may have been attempting an armed robbery at the time she was shot, and her refusal to cooperate with investigators sealed the decision.

The case stems from an early-morning incident on October 18, 2025, when Barnstable Police responded to reports of someone being shot at the 174 Main Street apartments in Hyannis. Officers found the woman critically injured with a gunshot to her chest; she was airlifted to a Boston hospital and expected to survive. Following a standoff, Evan Araujo, 18, and Jacob Winbush, 19, both of Hyannis, were arrested and charged with assault to murder while armed, assault and battery with a firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession of ammunition without an FID card. The shooting was described by police as non-random.

At their October 20 arraignment in Barnstable District Court, not guilty pleas were entered for both. Araujo was held without bail due to a probation violation from a prior juvenile charge involving assault with a dangerous weapon, while Winbush was held pending a dangerousness hearing.

According to the Nolle Prosequi filed by DA Galibois, additional evidence — including independent witness statements — emerged post-arraignment, indicating the woman “may have been involved in an attempted armed robbery of the defendants” when shot. This information was shared with defense attorneys, but the woman has since refused interviews or further statements to investigators. Citing the “interests of justice,” the Commonwealth determined it could not proceed.

In remarks accompanying the filing, Galibois elaborated: “In light of the additional evidence secured during the ongoing investigation indicating that the alleged victim attempted to rob the two young men — while being armed with a weapon of her own — and the refusal of the alleged victim to cooperate with investigators as to the nature of her acts on the night in question, the Commonwealth is unable to proceed at this time.”

Araujo remains in custody after pleading guilty to a youthful offender indictment on his prior assault charge, with sentencing set for January 9, 2026, in Falmouth Juvenile Court pending a probation report. Winbush’s status was not detailed in the statement provided to Hyannis News. [Updates will be published here as they become available…]

* HN Reminder: The details contained in the above report are based on a Nolle Prosequi filed with the court on both the Winbush and Araujo cases. The above report also contains information from two previous Hyannis News articles entitled: “WOMAN CRITICALLY INJURED IN HYANNIS APARTMENT SHOOTING, TWO MALES IN CUSTODY” and “Hyannis Attempted Murder Suspects Arraigned in District Court.” All potential defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until charged and proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. No further details were available at the time of this above report.

For reference, the HN videos from the October 18 shooting scene and the October 20 arraignment are available below, capturing the initial response and courtroom proceedings.

[Video 1: October 18, 2025 – The Morning of the Shooting – Shows police and firefighters securing the scene, evacuating the victim, and the standoff leading to arrests.]