No Bail For Somerville Man Charged In Teen's Killing

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Somerville man accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old Chelsea boy last year was ordered held without bail at his arraignment Monday, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said. Juan Carlos Matos Figueroa, 21, allegedly opened fire on a group of teens the afternoon of Jan. 13, 2017, killing Jimmy Vasquez and injuring a second victim.

The shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. on Shurtleff Street, authorities said. Figueroa, allegedly a backseat passenger in a car driving toward Grove Street, pointed a 9-mm handgun with a 30-round magazine and red laser sight at the group as he passed by, according to the DA. He then got out of the car a short distance down the street and opened fire on the group, fatally striking Vasquez in the abdomen and a second 15-year-old in the foot, prosecutors said.

None of the teens were armed at the time.

Figueroa and the other people in the car then allegedly fled the area.

Investigators named Figueroa a suspect after interviewing witnesses, looking at video footage and examining physical evidence that included shell casings found at the scene. Figueroa was indicted by a grand jury on Friday and arrested at a Jacques Street home in Somerville.

He is charged with first degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm in connection with Vasquez's death; armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery by means of a firearm for the non-fatal shooting of a second 15-year-old during the same incident; and four counts of armed assault with intent to murder and four counts of attempted assault and battery by means of a firearm for shots fired at four people who were at the scene but not injured, authorities said.

Figueroa's next court appearance is scheduled for May 10.

Photo of Jimmy Vasquez, 15, courtesy of Suffolk DA's office