Carlos Rivera appeared in Haverhill District Court on Nov. 8 to answer to a murder charge related to the May 6 shooting death of Jeffrey Larkin. (WHAV News photograph)
An argument related to a drug deal led to Carlos Rivera firing two gunshots to kill 40-year-old Jeffrey Larkin earlier this year on Haverhill’s Emerson Street, according to police.
Thirty-nine-year-old Rivera, of 30 Lancaster St., appeared in Haverhill District Court Thursday to answer to a charge of murder. Judge Mary McCabe ordered Rivera—represented at arraignment by Attorney Edward Hayden—held without bail until a Dec. 7 probable cause hearing.
Rivera was arrested by Haverhill and State Police Wednesday at his home, six months after getting into a verbal confrontation with Larkin, leading to Larkin’s death. In a newly released police report filed by Trooper Matthew Wilson, Haverhill Police responded to the area of Emerson and Grand Streets on May 6, 2018 after receiving multiple 911 calls for shots fired. Just before 11 p.m., first responders found Larkin lying in the street with a bullet wound to his chest. He was transported to Haverhill’s Holy Family Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police say Haverhill’s first murder of 2018 was not a random act. Rivera, also known as “Chin,” was acquainted with Larkin, and Rivera had reached out to him on the day of the shooting to purchase drugs.
Witnesses told police Rivera confronted Larkin as he walked down Grand Avenue and Rivera pulled out a firearm as the argument escalated, firing two shots at Larkin. After the shooting, police say Rivera fled the scene in a black Kia to a home on Lowell’s Temple Street.
Twenty-five-year-old Sky Stefanelli was indicted by an Essex County grand jury Wednesday for her alleged role in the Larkin murder, District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett’s office told WHAV. Facing a charge of accessory after the fact, Stefanelli gave Haverhill Police a home address of 94 Temple St., in Lowell, when she was arrested on Pentucket Street for alleged breaking and entering on May 10, 2018.