Joseph Morante's alleged killer arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court

Zack Sampson — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:14:30 -0500

Elosko Brown, 27, of Brockton, was arraigned Jan. 14 in Suffolk Superior Court on charges that he shot and killed 19-year-old Joseph Morante, of Revere, in what police have described as a botched robbery at a Roxbury cell phone store, according to the Suffolk County district attorney's office.

Morante, an employee of the cell phone store at 1053 Tremont St., died July 31, 2013, authorities said. Before his death, he had earned his GED and was engaged to be married, his fiancé told The Boston Globe. The Suffolk County district attorney first announced charges against Brown in November. He is accused of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors said surveillance camera footage shows Morante putting his hands in the air after Brown pulled a gun in the store. They allege that Brown shot Morante in the torso.

Brown is due in court again on March 4, according to a spokesman for the district attorney.

See press releases from the Boston Police Department below:

Update: BPD Video and Photos of Suspect in July Shooting Death
September 27, 2013

Boston Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the suspect in an armed robbery that lead to the shooting death of a Joseph Morante.

The facts of the homicide are as follows:
At about 1:29 PM, Wednesday, July 31, 2013, officers from district D-4 (South End) responded to a radio call for a Person Shot in the area of 1053 Tremont Street, Roxbury.

On arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gun shot wound. The victim was transported to Boston Medical Center were he was pronounced deceased. The victim was later identified as Joseph Morante, 19, of Revere.

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.

Update: Suspect Arrested in the Murder of Joseph Morante
November 17, 2013

Earlier this morning members of the Youth Violence Strike Force and Brockton Police arrested Elosko Brown, 27, of Brockton for the murder of Joseph Morante. Brown will be arraigned tomorrow in Roxbury District Court. After a thorough and complete investigation, the Boston Police Homicide Unit, working closely with District D-4 (South End) detectives, Drug Control Unit, Boston Reginal Intelligence Center (BRIC), Crime Stoppers, Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and Electronic Crimes/Forensic Group were able to identify and name the suspect responsible for the shooting. Accordingly, detectives sought and obtained an arrest warrant in the name of the suspect.

The facts of the homicide are as follows:

At about 1:29 PM, Wednesday, July 31, 2013, officers from district D-4 (South End) responded to a radio call for a Person Shot in the area of 1053 Tremont Street, Roxbury.

On arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gun shot wound. The victim was transported to Boston Medical Center were he was pronounced deceased. The victim was later identified as Joseph Morante, 19, of Revere.

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.

See press releases from the Suffolk County district attorney's office and a copy of Brown's indictment below:

No Bail for Alleged Gunman who “Snuffed Out a Life of Promise”

BOSTON, Nov. 18, 2013—The man who pulled a gun on Joseph Morante, Jr., during a July 31 robbery pulled the trigger even though he faced no resistance from the store clerk, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

ELOSKO BROWN (D.O.B. 2/23/86) of Brockton was arraigned in Roxbury District Court today on charges of murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm, all in connection with Morante’s shooting death outside the Roxbury electronics store where he worked. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Edmond Zabin, he was ordered held without bail pending trial.

“Everything we know about Joseph Morante suggested promise,” Conley said. “At just 19, he was on the cusp of adulthood. He was in love and worked at a job he enjoyed. He had friends and family and colleagues who adored him. He had a good life ahead of him, but everything he might have been was snuffed out for no reason at all by one man with a gun.”

Zabin told the court that Morante was working at the iWorld Accessories shop on Tremont Street in Roxbury when Brown walked into the otherwise empty store shortly before 1:30 p.m. After a brief interaction between the two, Zabin said, Morante went behind a counter at the rear of the store.

Brown allegedly waited a moment, then walked over to the counter and produced a gun. Morante put his hands up and offered no resistance, but Brown allegedly shot him in the torso nonetheless.

“We believe this was a completely unprovoked shooting,” Conley said. “It never should have happened.”

Mortally wounded, Morante ran past the defendant and out of the store, making it to the corner of Cunard Street before he collapsed. Meanwhile, Brown allegedly stole a quantity of cell phones and other electronics before fleeing on foot.

Morante was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of his injuries.

The investigation has been active since that afternoon, Zabin said, with Boston Police homicide detectives gathering video surveillance from Morante’s shop and other businesses in the area – including surveillance images released to the public in September. Criminalists scoured the crime scene for trace evidence and prosecutors began eliciting testimony from witnesses and potential witnesses in the Suffolk County Grand Jury. Those efforts came to a head on Saturday, when prosecutors approved a warrant for Brown’s arrest.

Members of the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force and Brockton Police arrested Brown at a Brockton residence yesterday morning.

Kara Hayes is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Brown is represented by attorney Elda James. He will return to court on Dec. 17.

–30–

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Robbery, Murder Suspect Due in Court Tomorrow
BOSTON, Jan. 13, 2014—The man who allegedly gunned down 19-year-old Joseph Morante Jr. during an armed robbery will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court tomorrow following his indictment for first-degree murder and related offenses, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced today.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on Jan. 6 returned indictments charging ELOSKO BROWN (D.O.B. 2/23/86) of Brockton with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Brown was previously arraigned on these charges in Roxbury District Court. The indictment moves the case from the district court to Suffolk Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated.

According to prosecutors, Brown entered the iWorld Accessories electronics store on Tremont Street in Roxbury shortly before 1:30 p.m. on July 31. The only other person inside the store was Morante, a shop employee who interacted briefly with Brown before walking behind the counter.

Moments later, Brown approached the counter and pulled out a gun, prosecutors said. Upon seeing the gun, Morante put up his hands and offered no resistance, but Brown allegedly pulled the trigger and shot him in the torso.

Morante fled from the store and collapsed on the corner of Cunard Street. As the victim ran, prosecutors say Brown stole a quantity of cell phones and other electronics before fleeing the store on foot.

Morante was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

In the days and weeks that followed, Boston Police and Suffolk prosecutors undertook extensive efforts to identify the assailant. After a review of video surveillance at and near the store, as well as statements from multiple witnesses, Brown was taken into custody on Nov. 16.

Assistant District Attorney Edmond Zabin, chief of the DA’s Homicide Unit, led the grand jury investigation that led to yesterday’s indictment. Kara Hayes is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Brown is represented by attorney Elda James.

A copy of Brown's indictment has been added below.

Joseph A. Morante | Homicide Watch Boston

Joseph Morante's alleged killer arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court