An ordinary midafternoon at Downtown Crossing became a criminal scene when, according to authorities, a group of New Hampshire residents chased down a 19-year-old and assaulted him on an MBTA escalator before stealing his phone and bank cards.
Six people from Manchester, New Hampshire, were charged in Boston on Wednesday in connection with the March 15 incident, which authorities say occurred about 3:25 p.m. at the busy Downtown Crossing station. The incident left the victim on an escalator with facial and head injuries, and judges later ordered the accused to stay away from both the victim and the station.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Luiz Loaiza, Jose Soto, Cameron Castro, Anthony Perry, and Alexander Loaiza have each been charged with unarmed robbery, assault and battery with a deadly weapon (shod foot), and disorderly conduct. Giavanna Williams, a sixth defendant, was charged with receiving stolen property totaling $1,200 and disruptive behavior. A judge placed each person’s bond at $500 and enforced stay-away orders; all six are due back in court on May 19 for a probable-cause hearing.
“They will be held accountable for their frightening attack on this young man,” District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement released by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The suspects are deemed innocent until proven guilty.
Authorities say the dispute began on the Red Line, where the 19-year-old was confronted, and it escalated when he jumped off the train and onto the Downtown Crossing escalator. Police allege that the group followed him, kicked him, and stole his phone, identity, and debit cards.
Officers later utilized the Find My iPhone feature to trace down the stolen phone, discovering a group roughly an hour after the attack outside 99 Blackstone Street. According to the Boston Herald, police recovered the stolen things and found blood on one of the suspects’ clothes.
During the arraignment in Boston Municipal Court, the judge issued $500 bail for each defendant and reiterated the instructions to stay away from the victim and the Downtown Crossing Station. The Boston Herald described the event as a “brazen daytime attack” in the heart of downtown Boston. All six suspects are expected to appear in court on May 19 for a probable cause hearing.
