A 22-year-old Malden resident named Steven Andre was formally charged last week with the murders of Angel Acevedo and Jenret Appleberry. Prosecutors say Andre spent time socializing with the two victims at their Chelsea home before fatally shooting them in the early morning hours of September 6, 2010, following Labor Day. Beyond the two first-degree murder counts, Andre faces additional charges including assault with a dangerous weapon for brandishing a gun at a third person who was present but unharmed, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Assistant District Attorney John Pappas presented the case to Suffolk Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Gary D. Wilson, requesting that Andre be held without bail pending trial. The request was granted. Pappas informed the court that Andre had recently finished serving a jail sentence for gun-related offenses at the time of these homicides and was on five years of probation. Andre is now incarcerated serving a one- to three-year sentence for violating the terms of that probation.
According to Pappas, Andre was acquainted with the 25 and 26-year-old victims and spent the evening of September 5, 2010, socializing with them at their Chester Avenue residence. A third man, who was a roommate of the victims and had his young son with him, was also present that night and had gone to sleep. “As the roommate slept,” Pappas explained to the court, “the defendant, without warning, without provocation and without justification or excuse, shot Angel Acevedo and Jenret Appleberry.” The prosecutor described how Appleberry sustained gunshot wounds to his right cheek and the side of his head, while Acevedo was shot in the right and center of his neck. Investigators believe at least one victim was asleep at the time of the shooting.
The roommate awoke to gunshots and hid in his bedroom with his son. When Andre entered, he forced the man into the living room, where he witnessed his two roommates bleeding. “The defendant then methodically made his way through the apartment in search of money,” said Pappas. “During this time, he made multiple statements taking responsibility for Acevedo’s and Appleberry’s deaths, claiming he was paid a substantial sum of money to kill them.” Pappas said Andre eventually permitted the third man and his child to leave. Before departing, Andre took various items belonging to the victims, including a wristwatch and Sony Playstation gaming console, which were later recovered from Andre’s Malden apartment along with other evidence connecting him to the scene.
Based on witness statements, evidence from the crime scene and defendant’s residence, and additional investigative findings, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley authorized an arrest warrant. Chelsea and State Police homicide detectives arrested Andre on September 13. Stephen Weymouth represents Andre, who is scheduled to return to court on March 8.