3 Somerville Teens Charged In Cambridge Shooting

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Three Somerville teenagers are facing charges in connection with a shooting in Cambridge Sunday, police said. David Pleitez, 18, Joao Bonicenha, 19, and a 16-year-old were arrested following a shooting in Harvard Square that left an 18-year-old Cambridge man with non-life-threatening injuries.

Around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, emergency crews responded to a report of possible shots fired. Suspects were witnessed fleeing the area toward JFK Street, according to police. Responding officers searched the area and found four shell casings on Eliot Street.

Two groups were involved in "several altercations" in the Harvard Square area near the Eliot Street garage prior to the shooting, police said. Investigators identified Pleitez, Bonicenha and the 16-year-old as being involved in the altercations from nearby surveillance cameras and arrested them Thursday morning, according to police.

A vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting was also seized.

Pleitez and the 16-year-old were charged with attempted murder, carrying a dangerous weapon, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and possession of a firearm without an FID card. Bonicenha was charged with attempted murder and accessory after the fact.

The two adults are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Cambridge District Court. The 16-year-old is expected to be arraigned in Middlesex County Juvenile Court.

"Our Officers, along with our partners at Somerville, have been aggressively working this case since the shooting occurred and I am very pleased that this concerning incident was quickly resolved," Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard Jr. said in a statement. "We will not accept this type of behavior occurring in our safe community."

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and Cambridge police ask that anyone who may have more information to contact (617) 349-3300. Those who wish to submit tips anonymously via phone, text message or email, can visit http://www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/communityresources/anonymouscrimetips.