(Additional photograph below.)
Five Haverhill men, whom police allege were involved in a gang-related, daytime shootout Thursday in downtown Haverhill, were held without bail at the Essex County House of Correction following their arraignments before Judge Cesar A. Archilla in Haverhill District Court.
Evan Carlisle, 24, Juan Figueroa, 23, Timothy S. Mossey, 18, Richard I. Santana, 25, and Riley A. Quinn 18, were all charged with armed assault with intent to murder as well as numerous other related charges including possession of a large capacity firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, malicious damage to a car and disorderly conduct. Carlisle was arraigned separately as he was not arrested until after the first four were arraigned.
Essex County Assistant District Attorney Brittany Fraine told the court prosecutors believe Figueroa, Santana and Carlisle were upset because Mossey and Quinn had disrespected the late Carlos Rivera of the Gangster Disciples gang. Figueroa is known by the police to be a member of that gang. The police report says “It is important to note that the location of How Street and May Street has been known to the HPD as a memorial to Carlos Rivera” and it is a location where gang members are known to congregate.
The next court date for Quinn and Mossey, who are roommates, was set for Friday, April 24. Figueroa and Santana were ordered to return to court Monday, April 27. Archilla ordered Mossey and Quinn not to have contact with Figueroa and Santana and vice versa.
Fraine said police were called to 51 Welcome St. at 11:27 a.m. Thursday, April 16, after multiple reports of gunshots. When they arrived, witnesses reported they saw two men, one later identified as Figueroa and the other, Carlisle, exit a blue Honda sedan driven by Santana and then follow two younger men, later identified as Mossey and Quinn. The four exchanged words and Quinn and Mossey withdrew towards a parked and occupied Honda CRV crouching behind it.
When Figueroa and Carlisle followed, Quinn fired shots towards them and the gunfire was returned by the unidentified male. During the exchange bullets hit the CRV narrowly missing the occupant. Bullets also damaged two other unoccupied cars and were found in the siding of a nearby house. The report says it does not appear that either Figueroa or Mossey fired their guns. Only Santana had a legal license to carry a firearm.
The 71-year-old man nearly struck in the car previously told photographer Al Pereira, in an interview shared with WHAV, he initially believed he was the target because he complained some of the men had been trespassing at his apartment building.
City security camera footage shows Quinn and Mossey fleeing by jumping a fence at the rear of 51 Welcome St. and continuing onto Emerson Street. Figueroa, Santana and Carlisle ran back to the Santana’s car and the car is observed leaving the area.
Attorney Eitan Goldberg, who represented Santana, said he does not think there is sufficient evidence to charge Santana with being a co-conspirator in the crime. He noted the police report indicated Santana had not participated in the shootout. However, Archilla said he is more inclined to believe the prosecutor’s version that there is probable cause to charge him.
Riley A. Quinn and Timothy S. Mossey, both of Haverhill, were among five arraigned Friday in Haverhill District Court on multiple firearms-related charges and held without bail in the Essex County House of Corrections following what police described as a gang-fueled, daylight shootout on Welcome Street in downtown Haverhill. (WHAV News photograph.)