Three defendants — one from Michigan — have been charged for their roles in a non-fatal shooting at the corner of Broadway and Cary Avenue last Wednesday, April 16.
Chelsea police arrested the trio Wednesday night, and Suffolk prosecutors subsequently arraigned two men and a woman in Chelsea District Court in connection with the incident that wounded an 18-year-old.
Rafael Leoner-Aguirre, 18, of Chelsea faced arraignment on charges including armed assault with intent to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm, and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Kevin Ayala, 20, of Chelsea was charged with misleading a police officer and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Viky Martinez-Chacon, 23, of Pontiac, Michigan, was arraigned on a charge of misleading a police officer.
Assistant District Attorney Myriam Feliz sought bail of $100,000 for Leoner-Aguirre, $50,000 for Ayala, and $10,000 for Martinez-Chacon. She also requested GPS monitoring for each defendant, that they remain in Massachusetts, and that they maintain no contact with victims and witnesses.
Judge Michael Nestor set bail at $25,000 for Leoner-Aguirre, $2,500 for Ayala, and released Martinez-Chacon on her own recognizance. The judge ordered all three defendants to have no contact with the victims and witnesses.
According to prosecutors, Leoner-Aguirre and Ayala were part of a group of males who attacked two young men, ages 17 and 18, near Broadway and Cary Avenue shortly after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16. During the altercation, Leoner-Aguirre allegedly drew a gun and fired at the 18-year-old victim in the left hip before the group escaped, prosecutors stated.
Police received a vehicle description and learned the shooter wore all white. Officers soon located the vehicle near Bellingham Street and Eastern Avenue, where they found Leoner-Aguirre dressed entirely in white and took him into custody. The victim was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers searching Leoner-Aguirre’s backpack recovered a warm Beretta .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun that was cocked but contained no ammunition in the clip, prosecutors said. An unspent .380 caliber round was discovered on the ground near his arrest location.
Both Ayala and Martinez-Chacon were in the vehicle when police stopped it and gave inconsistent statements that prosecutors say were meant to obstruct the investigation.
Chelsea Police detectives are collaborating with State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk DA’s office to develop additional facts and evidence regarding the Broadway shooting, consistent with how the department handles violent crime cases in the city.
This incident follows a drive-by shooting on Chester Avenue the previous day, April 15, around 1:30 a.m.
Several neighborhood reports also mentioned a shooting at the corner of Maverick and Shawmut Street where more than five rounds allegedly struck a house. However, Chelsea Police told the Record that the report was inaccurate and no such shooting occurred there on Wednesday, April 16.
Anyone with information about criminal incidents may contact Chelsea Police detectives at 617-466-4843 or the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit at 617-727-8817. Those wishing anonymity can call the Chelsea Police CrimeStoppers tip line at 617-466-4880, text CHELSEA and their information to TIP411 (847411), or submit information online at www.ChelseaPolice.com.