Homicide Watch Boston

In brief:

There were no homicides reported this week in Boston. However, the Boston Police Department released firearms data Wednesday showing that while non-fatal shootings have decreased more than 50 percent from 2013 to 2014, gun-related murders are on the rise. From Jan. 1 to July 6, 2014, there were 24 reported homicides at the hands of a firearm — two more than were reported during the same period last year.

This revelation preceded a surge of violence over the weekend in which four people were shot within a span of seven hours. At this time, no one has been pronounced dead.

A spokesperson for BPD declined to comment on the findings.

The full report can be accessed here.

On progressive news site Truthout last week, activist Jean Trounstine wrote about limitations to a new bill passed by the Massachusetts Senate Tuesday allowing juveniles convicted of first-degree murder to become eligible for parole after serving between 20 and 30 years of their sentence. Trounstine advocates for rehabilitation, rather than prolonged imprisonment, on the premise that the youngsters were not given the opportunity to mature.

“These juveniles are not the monsters so often painted by the media. Certainly many of the crimes are especially heinous,” she wrote. “But while many cases detail horrendous crimes committed by juveniles, there is most often a terrifying story behind the lives of such youth.”

Meanwhile, those on the other side — including families with loved ones lost — have stood in steadfast opposition of the bill.
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Two brothers have been arrested in connection with the March 2014 slaying of a 23-year-old Dorchester resident after investigators found the DNA of one of them on a knife believed to have been used in the fatal stabbing.

At their arraignment Thursday, Harold Coleman, 26, and Shawn Coleman, 22, of South End were ordered held on $250,000 bail stemming from charges of second-degree murder in Christopher Borgella‘s death.

The elder Coleman also faces charges of two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property. His younger brother, Shawn, faces one additional count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

In the early morning hours of March 1, Boston police responded to reports of a brawl at the DoubleTree Hotel on Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. Officers were told that a party in one of the hotel rooms had become violent and spilled out onto the street, authorities said.

During the altercation, Harold Coleman allegedly grabbed a detachable steering wheel and attacked two of Borgella’s friends with it. In response, prosecutors say Borgella took out a knife and handed it to a another friend, who threw it at Coleman and his posse before retreating into a car.

Soon after, Coleman began pummeling the vehicle with the steering wheel, both cracking the windshield and shattering the passenger’s side window. The act resulted in another confrontation that left Borgella and second victim suffering multiple stab wounds. Borgella was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he eventually died.

According to prosecutors, authorities recovered a knife from the crime scene that had the victims’ DNA on the blade and Shawn Coleman’s DNA on the handle. Police apprehended the brothers hours after a grand jury handed down indictments against them.

Both men will return to court on Aug. 21, 2014.

A press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office below.
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Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All cases are heard at Suffolk Superior Court, located at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston, Mass.

On Tuesday, July 8, Christopher W. Powell, 40, charged with the February 2013 murder of Corey Thompson, 44, will appear for a final pretrial hearing.

On Thursday, July 10, Olivia Mora, 36, accused of killing 7-year-old Brianna Rosales in a deadly car crash last November, will appear for a pretrial conference.

Please remember that all hearings are subject to change, even at the last minute. To confirm the time and date of homicide trial hearings, call the criminal clerk’s office at (617) 788-8160.

In brief:

Two homicides were reported this week in Boston.

- Walter Cook Jr., 38, was found suffering from gunshot wounds in his East Boston apartment at 1:53 p.m. last Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

- Corey Ragland, 36, was gunned down near 73 Edgewater Drive in Hyde Park around 2 p.m. on Monday. He was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he eventually died.

The Boston Police Department is actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding these incidents. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470.

A man arrested in connection with the 2012 homicide of Hyde Park native Orlando Guerrero, 42, is being held without bail.

Luis Diaz, 29, of Dorchester, was indicted Thursday on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. Diaz’s alleged accomplice, Jose “Joey” Carrasquillo, was arrested in March.

Guerrero was found shot at the Mandela Home housing project in Roxbury at about 11 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2012, suffering a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office below.
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Authorities have arrested Anthony Howard, 27, in connection with the June 2013 homicide of Brianna J. Bigby. Howard is suspected of shooting Bigby, her boyfriend and two other people during a 10-hour shooting spree.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2013, Boston police found Bigby in a vehicle near Columbus Avenue and Washington Street in Roxbury. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bigby’s boyfriend, who had been shot at before, was believed to be the target of the attack. He was also wounded but survived.

A press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office below.
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The lawyer for the man accused of kidnapping, raping and killing a 24-year-old woman last summer has filed paperwork with Suffolk County Superior Court saying that he plans to pursue a defense of insanity on behalf of his client.

Defense Attorney Jeffrey A. Denner and his client, Edwin J. Alemany, were before the court last week.

Denner wrote he will rely on the premise of a “lack of criminal responsibility” due to “mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged offense conduct.” He intends to bring expert witnesses before the court to testify about his client’s mental status and will also use statements made by the suspect himself as to his mental condition at the time of the alleged crime.

Alemany is charged in the brutal slaying of South Boston resident Amy B. Lord in July 2013. He also faces assault charges that stem from several other attacks, two of which occurred within 24 hours of Lord’s murder.

He will return to court for a status review on Aug. 5, 2014. His trial date is set for December of this year.

A copy of the defense filing has been added below.
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**Update (7/2/2014): BPD has identified the victim of this homicide as Corey Ragland, 36, of Mattapan.**

Boston police are investigating the shooting death of a Mattapan man that occurred just one day after a man was gunned down in East Boston.

Just after 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30, Boston police officers responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 73 Edgewater Drive in Hyde Park. When they arrived, cops found a male victim in his 30s suffering what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he eventually died.

A full update from BPD after the jump.
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**Update (6/30/2014): BPD has identified the victim of this homicide as Walter Cook Jr., 38, of East Boston. Cook’s killer allegedly climbed the fire escape at 232 Brandywine Drive and broke through the window before shooting Cook multiple times in his apartment.**

Authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in East Boston.

Just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, Boston police officers responded to a well-being check at 232 Brandywine Drive in East Boston. On arrival, the officers found a male in his mid-30s suffering what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Boston police urge anyone with information to call the Boston Police Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470.

A full update from BPD is after the jump.
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