A 20-year-old Haverhill man was arraigned Monday for the alleged attempted murder of another man during a reported shooting a week ago on Arch Street.
Edward Mattas Espin-Maisonet, whom police say is a member of the Gangster Disciples gang, was arraigned Monday on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery with a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and conspiracy. While there were unconfirmed reports of a shooting last week on Arch Street, Espin-Maisonet was not found and arrested until Thursday, June 18, just before 5 p.m., and his name appeared on a log WHAV received Friday. Details were not available, however, as Haverhill District Court was closed due to the Juneteenth holiday. There were no obvious indications of a shooting on the police incident log June 15.
According to court testimony, witnesses told police they heard an argument on Monday, June 15, around 9:30 p.m., outside 24 Arch St. They then reported two to five gunshots. When police arrived, they were told a white BMW SUV quickly left the area and someone who appeared to be a friend had taken a victim to the hospital.
The victim, who sustained wounds to his chest, was identified in court as Peter Flores Jr., of Waterford, Conn., who has Haverhill ties. Haverhill Police later found Flores in the emergency room of Merrimack Health Haverhill Hospital where he was being prepared to be taken by air ambulance the Boston Medical Center. He told police he had been jumped by two men wearing masks.
A second 20-year-old from Lawrence, Neyson Rodriquez, was identified in court as an alleged co-defendant, but he remains at large. A warrant was issued for his arrest Monday, according to the Haverhill District Court Clerk’s office. Rodriquez was named by the Haverhill Police in a 22-page report as the person who allegedly discharged the firearm. The report said Rodriquez is a known member of the same gang as Espin-Maisonet.
Attorney Michelle L. Doucette, Espin-Maisonet’s court-appointed lawyer for his bail hearing, argued in court that since Espin-Maisonet was not the person who allegedly fired the gun, there isn’t probable cause he was carrying a firearm without a license. However, Judge Susan H. McNeil said she is convinced by the argument advanced by Essex County Assistant District Attorney Alyssa B. Fournier that there is probable cause that her client planned the shooting with Rodriquez.
Police also talked to Elvis Rodriquez, who identified himself as Flores’s uncle. He told police he drove Flores to the hospital in Flores’ work van. Elvis Rodriquez told police Flores runs a key fob business in Connecticut and he visited him after doing a job in Haverhill.
Haverhill Police later found the BMW in Lawrence and learned it had been leased to Joshua Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer told police he gave Rodriquez his car key to retrieve an item from the car and he hadn’t expected Rodriquez would drive the car. Police found a gun holster in the car which they seized as evidence and the car was impounded.
Security cameras also showed two men, later identified by police as Espin-Maisonet and Neyson Rodriquez, swapping the rental with another vehicle, a black Honda CR-V registered to Espin-Maisonet. Through video footage, police tracked that car to Rodriquez’s Lawrence apartment where video shows the pair stopped briefly to change clothing.
Police arrested Espin-Maisonet Thursday when his car passed a security camera in Washington Square in Haverhill shortly after 3:30 p.m. Police told Espin-Maisonet his car was being impounded as it was allegedly involved in an incident and that Espin-Maisonet was being arrested for his alleged involvement as well. He is being held in the Essex County House of Correction in Middleton. He’s due back in court on Monday, June 29.