Three Men Arrested Following Shooting on Southbridge Street in Worcester

Monday, May 08, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Three men were arrested following a shooting on Southbridge Street early Sunday morning.

John Mendez, 27 of Fitchburg was charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (firearm), unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm, discharge of a firearm within 500 Feet of a dwelling, and larceny of a firearm.

Alexander Vera, 25, of Lowell was charged with misleading a police investigation.

Eliezer Delvalle, 23, of Worcester was charged with disorderly conduct.

The Incident

On Sunday, May 7 at approximately 1:36 a.m., a police officer was working an off-duty assignment at the Riviera Showclub at 241 Southbridge St. An individual was asked to leave the club, and escorted outside by security. The officer was walking outside to assist security when he heard several gunshots. He asked for assistance on his radio.

The officer observed a man, later identified as Mendez, 27 pass a gun to Alexander Vera, 25, of Lowell. The officer approached Vera and removed the gun from Vera’s waistband. Vera had a license to carry firearms issued by Fitchburg PD. There was a man on the ground outside the club who had been shot twice in the legs. Responding officers delivered medical treatment while they waited for the ambulance. The male was transported by ambulance as a priority one patient to the hospital. Officers from the Gang Unit, Crime Scene Unit, and Detective Bureau responded.

Officers on scene questioned Vera and Mendez. Vera said that he fired the weapon himself. Mendez claimed to have never touched the gun, and said that Vera had it the whole time. This was contradicted by the detail officers’ observations, as well as the security footage that captured the event. Vera was placed under arrest for Misleading a Police Investigation.

While officers were administering first aid to the victim, a man, later identified as Delvalle kept yelling at a group of men while being held back. Officers told him several times to stop trying to fight people at this volatile crime scene. Despite being warned, officers saw him screaming and walking with clenched fists toward another group of men.

The three suspects will be arraigned on Monday in Worcester District Court.