Man Carjacked at Gunpoint Near Capuano School, Says Report
The victim was boxed in by members of the "Port Life Gang" and dragged from his car, according to a police report.
At least eight men, some with guns, dragged a Somerville man out of his car, threatened to kill him, and drove off with the vehicle—all outside the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center in East Somerville—according to a Somerville police report.
The victim told police at least two of the carjackers were brothers from Cambridge and members of the "Port Life Gang," the report says.
The alleged carjacking took place shortly before 2 a.m. on July 16, when the victim, driving his fiancee's car, pulled over near 82 Franklin St., close to the Capunao School, to let his friend out, according to the report.
As he was pulled over, a black Pontiac pulled in front of his car, and then a red Honda Civic pulled up behind his car, boxing him in, the report says.
According to the report, at least eight men got out of the cars, including the alleged gang members, and one of the men pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the victim and said, "Get the [expletive] out of the car … you wanna be on my [expletive] block."
The gun-wielding man opened the car door and dragged the victim out, the report says.
The victim told police he saw another man pointing a revolver at him, and others in the gang egged the assailants on by saying, "Shoot him … [expletive] shoot him," according to the report.
One member of the group, Willigen Sanchez, 20, of Malden, allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened the victim with it, according to the report.
The report says the victim "ran for his life" down Franklin Street toward Washington Street, and when he turned around he saw the men driving toward him in his own car.
He called 911, the report says, and based on his account, Willigen was arrested in Everett and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. He was driving the red Civic at the time of the arrest, the report says.
The investigation is ongoing, according to the report, and police were looking to arrest the two Cambridge brothers on charges of carjacking, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of firearms. They were also hoping to identify as many of the remaining suspects as possible, the report says.
Please remember that charges contained in police reports do not indicate a conviction.
mplo
8:34 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
This is really scary. Let's hope that the gangsters who hijacked that guy's car get arrested and thrown behind bars, where they belong.
Somerville Home Owner
10:19 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
wow, this is one of the worst crime stories I have heard in the area. Scary!
mplo
4:12 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Car jackings are relatively rare here in this neck of the woods, but the fact that we had one recently that's too close for comfort proves that no place is 100% safe anymore, or, for that matter, ever was.