Suspect In Worcester Killing Returned To Scene Of Shooting: DA

WORCESTER, MA — A man charged in the shooting death of a Boston man returned to the home where the killing took place while detectives were still on scene investigating — but it was his girlfriend who would eventually tell police about his role in the incident, according to prosecutors.

Shots rang out at around 5:30 a.m. Monday along King Street. When police arrived, they found the 31-year-old victim with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial a short time later.

According to Worcester County prosecutor David Feraco, Amber Gravel, 27, and Jacob Grice, 35, drove to the Main South neighborhood early Monday morning. Gravel told Worcester detectives that she thought they were going to "smoke" with Grice's friends at a home at 38 King St.

Gravel told detectives that Grice opened fire on the victim in front of the King Street home, prosecutors said. Gravel told detectives that the shooting came as a surprise to her, and she fled the area in the SUV the duo had driven to the neighborhood. She later picked up Grice near the scene of the killing, prosecutors said. Grice had left the scene of the shooting in the victim's car, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors did not immediately give a motive for the killing.

Worcester police first encountered Grice in the hours after the shooting, when he arrived on a scooter and asked if he could get inside the home — which apparently belonged to his cousin — to retrieve a helmet.

Later, detectives reviewed surveillance footage that showed a Mercedes registered to Grice had parked near the scene of the shooting along Queen Street. The footage also showed Grice and Gravel walking toward the scene, Feraco said in court on Thursday.

Detectives arrested Grice at his Endicott Street home on Wednesday. When they searched him, they found him in possession of ammunition and more than 29 grams of cocaine, prosecutors said.

Gravel has been charged with accessory to murder after the fact. Grice has been charged with assault and battery with a gun, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon resulting in serious injury, multiple gun law violations, and possession of cocaine. Gravel and Grice both entered not guilty pleas.

During her arraignment Thursday, a judge granted Gravel's request to be released on $1,000 cash bail. Grice was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday.