Following his indictment in Boston’s Suffolk Superior Court last Thursday, Armando Lopez, 29, was held on elevated bail as an alleged accessory to Elder Morales’ 2013 murder in Chelsea.
Lopez appeared yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court facing charges as an accessory after the fact in connection with Morales’ homicide on March 5, 2013. He is additionally charged with two counts of unlawful firearm possession and one count of unlawful ammunition possession related to the shooting death.
Since his February arraignment on firearm charges in Chelsea District Court, Lopez had been held on $25,000 bail. Suffolk Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Connie Wong increased his bail to $40,000 on Thursday.
According to prosecutors’ statements in court, Lopez was aware that gang associate Jonathan Castro, 23, of Chelsea, stood accused of fatally shooting Morales, and he consented to assist in concealing Castro’s firearm and clothing following the homicide. Before his arrest on a murder charge, Castro managed to dispose of the items. While being held without bail, Castro coordinated with Lopez to retrieve these items and transport them to Lopez’s residence, the prosecution alleged.
Chelsea and State Police detectives executed a search warrant at Lopez’s home but did not locate the murder weapon. The search did uncover a separate revolver containing five rounds of ammunition, prosecutors reported.
Lopez represents the fourth individual charged in Morales’ death.
Erick Romero, 15, of Chelsea, faces charges in Chelsea Juvenile Court including manslaughter and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Despite his juvenile status, prosecutors pursued an indictment against Romero as a youthful offender, making the proceedings public and subjecting him to adult-level penalties upon conviction.
Elder Portillo, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Chelsea Police and the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit made all four arrests.
According to prosecutors, Morales was standing on a Blossom Street porch shortly before 9 p.m. when a group of men, including Castro, approached him. One member of the group, whose face was covered by a mask, came forward with a knife and engaged Morales in conversation.
The remaining group members then advanced toward Morales. Castro then drew a revolver and fired multiple shots. In an attempt to escape, Morales was struck twice, sustaining fatal wounds. He was taken to Whidden Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Through witness statements, video surveillance, and overnight investigative work by Chelsea Police and State Troopers, Castro and two other men were located at a residence in Everett. Castro consented to speak with investigators at Chelsea Police headquarters and provided a recorded post-Miranda statement admitting to firing at Morales.