Taunton Man, Miguel Marrero, Arrested For Thursday Shooting
Taunton, Massachusetts native, Miguel Marrero, 20, was arrested on Friday for the alleged shooting of 23-year-old Gordon Weekes.
Marrero has been accused of shooting Weekes (whose name was misspelled “Weeks” by some publications) at around 9:45 a.m. on Thursday morning in the Whittenton area of Taunton. The shooting occurred near Marrero’s residence.
After the shooting, Weekes was driven to the local hospital by a friend but died at 10:06 a.m. The Taunton Daily Gazette reported that Weekes’ driver took his injured passenger to the lobby instead of the emergency room entrance.
A manhunt ensued soon afterward. Massachusetts State Police flew two helicopters over the Whittenton area. Police from Taunton and the nearby town of Raynham assisted state police in looking for the fugitive.
Homicide reported on 5th Avenue in Taunton. pic.twitter.com/T3mt4q7bHy
— Jonathan Hall (@JHall7news) March 24, 2016
In the backyard of a house about a quarter mile away from the shooting, a police canine unit found a small semiautomatic handgun believed to be used by Marrero.
Local schools also went on lockdown during the search.
Hopewell Elementary School, which is located near the site of the shooting, conducted classes as usual, but did not allow anyone to leave the premises.
According to Superintendent of Schools Julie Hackett, the Taunton police advised her to keep everyone inside.
“The children and staff are safe, and we are conducting classes in a regular manner. However, at this time no one is allowed to exit or enter the building until the police officers notify the school department that the situation has been resolved.”
Bristol Community College also went on lockdown as police hunted for the fugitive.
On Thursday night, after investigators had gathered enough evidence, an arrest warrant was issued for Marrero.
According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, Miguel Marrero was arrested in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood on Friday afternoon. He was arrested by the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and Boston police.
According to the Boston Police Facebook page, Marrero did not go in easily.
“Officers attempted to establish a perimeter around a residence in the area of 50 John Eliot Square, Roxbury when the rear door opened and the suspect Marrero attempted to flee, accompanied by a second individual later identified as 19-year-old Moises Cintron of Brockton. When confronted by the officers, Marrero retreated back into the stairwell where he was quickly apprehended. Cintron assaulted an officer prior to fleeing on foot, however, District B-2 (Roxbury) officers along with BPD K-9 Rocky converged on the area, located Cintron, and took him into custody.”
District Attorney Quinn tweeted Marrero’s arrest shortly after the fugitive was caught.
Miguel Marrero, 20, of Taunton arrested in Roxbury this afternoon for Thursday murder of Gordon Weekes in #Taunton. Arraignment Monday.
— Bristol DA (@BristolDA) March 25, 2016
According to a statement from the district attorney’s office, Marrero has been charged with murder and carrying an illegal firearm. He will be held in jail over the weekend and arraigned in Taunton District Court on Monday morning.
The ongoing investigation into the homicide is being coordinated by Assistant District Attorney Jeanne Veenstra and Daniel Hourihan. A Massachusetts State Police detective is conducting the investigation.
So far, no one from either Marrero or Weekes’ families have issued a statement regarding the Thursday morning shooting.
[Image via Taunton Police Facebook page]
