Three members of a South Boston family charged in the murder of 29-year-old Edwin Santos were indicted last month, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley’s Office.
Brothers Elias Sanchez, 43, and Gabriel Sanchez, 32, along with Elias’ son, Angel Sanchez, 16, are accused of beating and stabbing Santos to death on Nov. 17 at Dorchester Street in front of his girlfriend.
All three men pleaded innocent at their arraignment. Father and son were arraigned Nov. 18 and Gabriel Sanchez was arraigned Nov. 21. All were held without bail. The father, who was injured in the assault, was arraigned in a Boston hospital room.
At the arraignment for Angel Sanchez, Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Mark Zanini said Elias Sanchez approached Santos and started beating him with what appeared to be a collapsible baton, the Boston Globe reports. Angel Sanchez appeared to open a folding knife and joined in the assault followed by Gabriel Sanchez, Zanini continued. The attackers tired themselves out and stopped the attack, Zanini alleged.
Santos and his alleged attackers knew each other, the report also said.
Zanini said in court the victim and his alleged attackers knew each other.
Zanini said the surveillance video shows Santos and his girlfriend in front of the store when the elder Sanchez arrived, pulled out a collapsible baton, and beat Santos with it, pursuing the victim as he repeatedly tried to back away.
Moments into the attack by the elder Sanchez, his 16-year-old son joined the attack and flipped an arm upward in what appeared to be the action of someone trying to open a folding knife, Zanini said. The younger Sanchez then stabbed and slashed at Santos, the prosecutor said.
See press release from Suffolk County district attorney’s office, Jan. 28:
Father, Son, Uncle Indicted in Fatal South Boston Stabbing
BOSTON, Jan. 28, 2014— Three family members were indicted today for first-degree murder in the fatal beating and stabbing of 29-year-old Edwin Santos in South Boston, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.
A Suffolk County grand jury returned the indictments charging ANGEL SANCHEZ (D.O.B. 5/15/97); his father, ELIAS SANCHEZ (D.O.B. 1/12/70); and Elias’ brother, GABRIEL SANCHEZ (DOB 1/31/81), with first-degree murder for the fatal Nov. 17 attack. The three men are expected to be arraigned on the indictments tomorrow morning in Suffolk Superior Court.
According to prosecutors, Elias Sanchez approached Santos and began to beat him with a club or baton as the victim and a female companion stood outside a Dorchester Street market shortly before 5:00 p.m. Soon, the elder Sanchez’s son, Angel, and brother, Gabriel, joined in the assault and each allegedly stabbed the victim.
The three assailants fled on foot as Santos stumbled into the market and collapsed. He died of multiple blunt trauma and stab wounds.
The grand jury proceedings that led to the indictments were led by Assistant District Attorney Mark Zanini, chief of the DA’s Juvenile Unit. Angel Sanchez is represented by J.W. Carney. Elias Sanchez is represented by Thomas Ford. Gabriel Sanchez is represented by Robert Wheeler.
—30—
All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Copies of the indictments have been added below.
