Homicide Watch Boston

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.

Investigators continue to search for the person who fatally shot Jose Lopez, 24, on Oct. 17 in Roxbury, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office.

Officers found Lopez inside a parked SUV in the area of 280 Humboldt Ave., Roxbury on the night of Oct. 17. The Lawrence native was pronounced dead at the scene.

Press release from Boston Police Department:

At about 9:27pm, Thursday, October 17, 2013, Officers from District B-2 (Roxbury) respond to a person shot, in the area of 280 Humboldt Avenue.

On arrival, officers observed a male victim inside a SUV parked at the curb.  The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.

The victim has been identified as Jose Lopez, 24, of Lawrence. 

The Boston Police Department Homicide Unit is actively investigating facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling CrimeStoppers at 1(800) 494-TIPS (8477) or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of those wishing to remain anonymous.

 

An online memorial fund to honor 21-year-old Dorchester native Andrew McGee, who was fatally shot last year, raised almost $2,000 in hopes of creating a college scholarship fund in his name.

McGee was killed in a double shooting just before 11 p.m. on Nov. 16 in Dorchester, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office said. An unidentified 19-year-old male, whom family have identified as McGee’s cousin,  Ron, was also injured, according to a press release from Conley’s office.

McGee was visiting family in Dorchester with his cousin when they were shot, the personal website created by his family says.
Both men were shot in front of a home on Whitman Street and McGee was taken to Boston Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, the press release said.

The investigation into his death is ongoing, Conley’s office said.

Andy was born and raised in Boston. Before that senseless and horrible event that Saturday evening, Andy lived happily with his Mom Della. Andy was her only child and so Andy and his Mom were not just Mother and son, they were pals. Because Andy was her only son, Della was strict when it came to raising him. She diligently kept her son off the streets and out of the trouble so many young men find themselves in when living in a big city.
- See more at the online fundraiser

At about, 10:52pm on Saturday, November 16, 2013, officers from District B-3 (Mattapan) responded to shot spotter activation in the area of8 Whitman St, Dorchester.

Upon arrival officer observed two male victims on the ground outside the address suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to Boston Medical Center. One of the male victims was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. The victim was later identified as Andrew McGee, 21, of Dorchester.

The Boston Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating the facts and circumstances of this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470.

Community members who wish to assist this investigation anonymously can either call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department is only interested in your information, not your identity.

A woman charged in a deadly car crash that killed a seven-year-old girl is being held on a $1.5 million bail after a hearing early this month, according to a docket from Suffolk Superior Court.

On the afternoon of Nov. 26, Brianna Rosales, 7, of Dorchester was struck by Olivia Mora, 36, also of Dorchester, who was allegedly drunken driving, a statement from Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office said.

Mora was behind the wheel of an SUV that jumped the curb at Olney Street in Dorchester and hit Rosales and her mother, 26-year-old Glendalee Alvarado. The mother and daughter were walking home from school, the statement said. Alvarado was injured and Rosales was pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center, the statement added.

Police smelled a strong odor alcohol on Mora. She failed three field sobriety tests, refused a Breathalyzer test and did not carry a Massachusetts license, Conley’s office said.

A statement from Conley said:

“We believe the evidence will show this driver was impaired. If so, this tragedy was 100 percent avoidable. Our hearts break for Brianna’s family and the unimaginable loss they’ve suffered.”

Mora pleaded innocent at her arraignment Nov. 26 in Dorchester District Court, court records show. She was charged with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury and operating a motor vehicle with an expired registration. She was ordered held without bail.

Mora allegedly stated her tires were faulty causing her to lose control of the vehicle, according to the statement.

Mora has a driving history that spans a seven-page record of violations in Massachusetts, according to the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles. With incidents starting in 2011, Mora has numerous violations including various speeding, seat belt violations, and failure to stop incidents, with nine incidents occurring overall in Dorchester. She also had her right to operate suspended more than once.

The Concord Monitor reported that Mora had several driving violations in New Hampshire as well, including:

According to her New Hampshire driving record,  Mora at one point lived on Branch Avenue in Concord. The record reflects Mora had a number of driving violations including making false statements on her registration, running a red light and a stop sign, and failing to have her car inspected. Her last New Hampshire violation, according to that record, occurred in 2011.

Mora came to Massachusetts in 1999 to attend Babson College and lives in Dorchester with her three-year-old daughter, the Boston Globe reported.

Mora’s past is chronicled in the book “Still We Rise,” a book by Los Angeles Times reporter Miles Corwin who observed for a year a program for gifted students at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles.

According to the book, she was abused by her mother, a runaway, ward of the county and a gifted student.

Mora is due back in Dorchester District Court on Feb. 14, according to the court docket.

A copy of Mora’s indictment has been added below.

The investigation is still open in the death of Nelson Castillo, 25, who was killed last September in Roslindale, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office said.

Castillo was killed Sept. 14 in one of four separate shooting incidents in Boston that night. He was found by officers in a parking lot adjacent to 75 Archdale Road, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, Boston police said in a statement.

Castillo was married and had a young daughter, Roslindale Patch reported.

The Archdale Road area is marred by a recent history of slayings including a young man fatally shot in the head in late 2012. A series of shots were also allegedly fired early last year in the area.

From Boston Police Department:

At about, 11:48pm, Saturday, September 14, 2013 officers from District E-5 (West Roxbury) responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of 80 Archdale Road, Roslindale.

On arrival, officers observed a male victim, who has since been identified as Nelson Castillo,25, of Boston, outside in a parking lot adjacent to 75 Archdale Road, suffering what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.  The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Homicide detectives are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call detectives at (617) 343-4470.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of those who wish to help this investigation anonymously.

The 36-year-old male fatally shot early Christmas morning in Dorchester has been identified as Rashaan O’Neil. The investigation into his death continues, according to Suffolk Country district attorney’s Daniel Conley’s office .

O’Neil was killed after shots were fired outside a house party at 92 Wales St. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Associated Press reported that the shots were fired after a fight broke out at the party.

Another woman at the party was injured by shattered glass. She was taken to a local hospital in serious condition, police told the Globe.

Police continue to investigate the killing of Lloyd Powell, who was shot to death May 23.

Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney’s office, said the investigation was still open, but did not provide any further details.

No arrests have been made in the case.

According to Boston police, officers found Powell afflicted with gunshot wounds outside 125 Elm Hill Ave. in Roxbury at about 8:15 p.m. May 23. Powell, 23, was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his wounds, police said.

Investigators are still searching for answers in the violent death of Erick Pierre-Louis on a Mattapan street last June.

Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney’s office, said the investigation was ongoing, but offered up no other details.

Police say Pierre-Louis died of gunshot wounds after a shootout between two vehicles at about 12:45 p.m. on June 15, 2013. Read more

Officials are continuing the investigation into the June 1 shooting death of 23-year-old Brianna Bigby.

Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney’s office, said only that the investigation was still open.

Bigby and her boyfriend were shot while in a car on Walnut Avenue in Roxbury, according to a Boston Globe report from the time of the incident.

The Globe reported Bigby’s boyfriend sustained serious injuries, but he ultimately survived the attack.

No arrests have been made.

Reverend Laura Buchanan Ahart | photo by Aditi Mehta

In a stark room at Nashua Street Jail, Reverend Laura Buchanan Ahart is dancing to gospel playing from a clock radio and making preparations for the baptism. On a makeshift pad of old blue tarps, a Jacuzzi-sized Rubbermaid tub is already filled with water. She notices some dust floating on top and asks a guard for chlorine. She’s expecting thirty men.

When they begin to arrive, Reverend Laura is still spraying purple fluid into the pool. She lifts up her bottle, points it at laughing prisoners, and says, “Watch this, I’ll squirt you right here.” They’re wearing uniforms that look like doctors scrubs. They have to change into all-white versions of the same clothes before the baptism can begin. Read more