Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Somerville Chief of Police Charles Femino and Belmont Chief of Police James MacIsaac have confirmed that two people have been arraigned in connection with allegedly firing a gun multiple times at two victims who were seating inside a vehicle, at the Mystic Activity Center on Mystic Avenue in Somerville on February 20, 2022.

Amanual Beshah, 19 of Malden, and a juvenile male were arraigned yesterday on two counts of armed assault to murder; attempted assault and battery with a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building. The juvenile was also charged with carrying a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm.

Both defendants were held pending 58a dangerousness hearings scheduled for Friday, May 6.

“We have been seeing a dangerous uptick in gun violence among young people,” said District Attorney Ryan. “In this case the victims, who had no known connection to the defendants, were not struck, but could have very easily been injured or killed. This type of intentional discharge of weapons without any regard for public safety is putting neighbors, people’s homes and the entire community at risk.”

The preliminary investigation into this matter suggests that on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at approximately 2:45 a.m., Somerville Police responded to Mystic Avenue in Somerville for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located two victims, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s. The victims reported that they had been seated in a parked vehicle when they allegedly observed several males walking towards the vehicle. Those individuals then opened fire at close range. The vehicle was struck multiple times but neither of the occupants was injured. The shooters subsequently fled the scene.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, examined forensic evidence and other information which eventually led them to allegedly identify Amanual Beshah and the juvenile in connection with the shooting.

Yesterday, police executed a search warrant at a Belmont residence. A 9mm handgun was located in that home.

Investigators believe that additional individuals were involved in this shooting and this remains an active and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Somerville Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s Office. Belmont police assisted in the execution of the search warrant today. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Ceara Mahoney and the Victim Witness Advocate is Nicole Cruz.

Anyone with any information about this case should contact Somerville Police at (617) 625-1600

— Middlesex District Attorney’s Office