Two men have been identified and held in connection with the attempted murder of a Chelsea teen in September, a brazen daylight attack that involved multiple stabblings with a knife and machete.
The two men, Jose Lopez, 20, of Revere and Jose Vasquez, 21, of Somerville, are charged with assault with intent to murder in connection with the Sept. 8 attack on the 16-year-old, who suffered 10 separate stab wounds in the daylight incident.
Lopez was arrested Wednesday in Morristown, N.J., on an unrelated charge of assault and battery and is currently held as a fugitive of justice on a Chelsea District Court warrant charging him with the September attack. Efforts are currently underway to return to Lopez to Massachusetts.
Vasquez was taken into custody Friday after he walked into Somerville District Court on an unrelated matter. He was arraigned the same day in Chelsea District Court on a charge of assault with intent to murder. Assistant District Attorney James Megee requested bail of $75,000 and that Vasquez be ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victim in the event that he is released on bail. Judge Benjamin Barnes set bail at $20,000 and imposed the requested order.
Chelsea Police were called to the area of Blossom and Maple streets at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 and found the teenage victim lying on the ground in the fetal position and bleeding from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for emergency surgery.
Witnesses provided police with physical descriptions of the suspects, and officers were able to retrieve surveillance images from a nearby business showing individuals matching those descriptions fleeing from the direction of the stabbing. Lopez and Vasquez were subsequently identified from photo arrays administered by Chelsea Police detectives. Investigators believe Lopez stabbed the victim during the assault, while Vasquez brandished a machete.
Vasquez was represented by attorney Daniel Fitzgerald. He will return to court Nov. 25. Lopez’ arraignment has not yet been scheduled.