Crime & Safety
Man Indicted On Murder Charge For Worcester State University Shooting
A man has been indicted on a murder charge for a fatal shooting at a Worcester campus. Two others were indicted on related charges.
WORCESTER, MA — A Lawrence man has been indicted on a murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting on the Worcester State University campus in October, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
Kevin Rodriguez, 18, was indicted by a Worcester County grand jury Wednesday. He will be arraigned Jan. 12 on charges of murder, possession of a loaded firearm not at home or work, and possession of a firearm not at home or work.
Police responded to a report of a shooting around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 28. Two men were found with gunshot wounds and transported to area hospitals.
Randy Armando Melendez Jr., 19, of Southbridge, died from his injuries. The second victim, a 21-year-old man, survived but was left paralyzed from the waist down.
The shootings occurred during a confrontation between two groups of people visiting the university campus, according to Early's statement. Neither the victims nor Rodriguez were students at the university.
Two others have been charged with robbing the 21-year-old victim. One of them is also accused of shooting the victim.
Richard Nieves, 19, of Spencer, and Kenneth Doelter, 20, of Southbridge, are accused of robbing the 21-year-old man. Doelter and Nieves were both indicted on charges of armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping.
Nieves is accused of shooting the surviving victim and was also indicted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of a loaded firearm not at home or work, and possession of a firearm not at home or work, according to Early's statement.
Both men will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on a future date.
