Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting of Everett Man

EVERETT, MA – The Everett police officer who fatally shot a man earlier this year has been cleared by the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.

District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Wednesday that her office had completed their investigation into the April 21 shooting death of 48-year-old Mario Mejia-Martinez, of Everett.

"This investigation concludes that, in the totality of the circumstances, the officer was justified in the use of deadly force and that there was no criminal conduct involved in the shooting of Mario Mejia-Martinez," the office said in a statement.

The Everett police officer who shot Mejia-Martinez was identified by the DA as Joseph Pepicelli.

According to the office's findings, Pepicelli made multiple attempts to maintain a distance between himself and Mejia-Martinez and repeatedly commanded him to drop the knife. Pepicelli fired his weapon only after Mejia-Martinez charged at him and came close to stabbing him with the knife, the DA's office concluded.

"Officer Pepicelli acted reasonably and lawfully," the office wrote. "Therefore, no criminal charges are warranted."

On April 21, police responded to reports of a man harassing pedestrians in front of 432 Chelsea St., near the corner of Chelsea and Broadway. Officers encountered Mejia-Martinez, who reportedly drew a knife and moved toward them while ignoring multiple commands to drop the weapon, witnesses told the DA at the time.