By: Laura Soukkavong
Boston – Early Sunday, Jan. 25, District B-3 (Mattapan/Dorchester) officers were dispatched to Boston Medical Center for reports of a gunshot victim.
Upon arrival, officers identified a 45-year-old male as the shooting victim. The male subject sustained a serious, but non-life-threatening, gunshot wound. An investigation was immediately launched by detectives into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which developed into an extensive, month-long inquiry.
During the investigation, officers determined that the shooting occurred inside the victim’s Dorchester residence during a home invasion involving four suspects. The incident began when the victim invited a female acquaintance to his apartment. A second female arrived with her and briefly left to go get food before returning empty-handed. Upon the return of the second female, two males entered the apartment, one armed with a handgun and the other with a shotgun. During the intrusion, the handgun was discharged, striking the victim, and one of the female suspects sprayed the victim with an unknown substance. Shortly afterward, all suspects fled the scene.
A vehicle linked to the suspects was identified, and detectives executed a search warrant at the victim’s residence, recovering ballistic evidence. Over the course of the investigation, officers tracked the vehicle, identified the individuals involved, and determined the location they had entered after the incident.
On Thursday, Feb. 26, detectives obtained multiple search and arrest warrants as a result. At approximately 6:00 am, a coordinated operation involving B-3 detectives, the B-3 Anti-Crime Unit, Boston Police SWAT Team, and the Wellesley Police Department was conducted in the area of Williams Street in Wellesley. Two male suspects, identified as Justin Martin, 31, of Wellesley, and Jahde Nitschke, 18, of Wellesley, were both taken into custody by police.
During the search of the residence, officers seized two cellphones, clothing believed to have been worn during the home invasion, and a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40 Caliber handgun with eight rounds of ammunition. A vehicle outside the residence was also towed for further investigation.
Martin has been charged with Home Invasion, Assault and Battery by Discharging a Firearm; Assault by Means of Dangerous Weapon (Firearm), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Second Offense); Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (Subsequent Offense); Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License (Second Offense), and
Nitschke was charged with Home Invasion, Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (Pepper Spray)
Both are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and will be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.