Man Arraigned In Connection With 1990 Lowell Murder

WOBURN, MA — Jose Armanda Betances, 58, was arraigned Monday in Middlesex District Court, in connection with the 1990 fatal shooting in Lowell of Andrew Alexander, 17, officials said. According to the release by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Kelly Richardson, Betances was held without bail on the charge of murder. He also faces a charge of carrying a firearm without a license.

Betances was arrested in the Dominican Republic in November and extradited to the United States on Friday. His next court date is scheduled for 2 p.m., March 2 in Lowell District Court.

Police say on May 12, 1990, at around 10:15 p.m., Alexander was in front of a residence on Salem Street in Lowell when Jose Betances drove up in his car and stopped. Jose Betances was picking up his girlfriend, who had previously dated Alexander. After Betances picked up his girlfriend, he began driving away when Alexander threw a rock, hitting the roof of Betances’s car, police say.

According to police, Betances soon returned, parking across the street from where Alexander was standing. Alexander challenged him to fight and threw another rock at the car, breaking the rear driver side window. At that point, police say, Betances shot Alexander with a handgun. He fled the scene, ordering his girlfriend out of the car. Alexander was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lowell.

An arrest warrant was issued the next day, but police came to believe Betances had fled the country. A federal arrest warrant was issued in Aug. 1990, on a charge of fleeing prosecution.

Investigators found Betances in the Dominican Republic in Jan. 2017. After an application by U.S. officials, the Dominican Republic Supreme Court issued a warrant for Betance's arrest in July, 2019. He was arrested in Santa Domino on Nov. 12, 2019, and held in custody pending extradition.

The charges against Betances are allegations, and he is innocent until proven guilty.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.