BOSTON, December 29, 2020 — Arraignments took place yesterday in two Suffolk County courts in connection with separate Christmas Eve attacks. In a Roxbury courtroom, a man was arraigned in the near-fatal beating of a senior citizen inside the victim’s own home, while the man charged with killing 28-year-old Kerwide Barthelemy as the victim attempted to break up a fight faced arraignment in East Boston.
During a proceeding conducted via Zoom, WYSE RICHARDSON, 23, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and battery on a person over 60 and aggravated burglary. Judge Debra Delvecchio of the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court ordered Mr. Richardson to undergo an evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.
Mr. Richardson is accused of breaking into a Pompeii Street apartment building and violently beating a 66-year-old resident and ransacking the man’s apartment at approximately 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The victim suffered a serious head injury and was transported to an area hospital. The victim remains hospitalized. Based on the severity of the victim’s injuries, the case is under investigation by detectives assigned to the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit.
In a separate, telephonic proceeding in the East Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court, STEVEN HATFIELD, 36, was arraigned on a charge of murder in Mr. Barthelemy’s December 24, 2020, stabbing death in Maverick Square. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Amy Martin, Judge John McDonald ordered Hatfield held without bail and ordered that he stay away from and have no contact with witnesses in the case or the victim’s family.
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Mr. Hatfield became involved in a physical altercation with another individual in the area of Maverick Square in East Boston. When Mr. Barthelemy attempted to intervene, Mr. Hatfield allegedly stabbed him in the torso, mortally wounding the victim.
Mr. Hatfield, who had blood on his clothing from the attack, fled into his South Bremen Street apartment building. Inside the building, he began to yell and behave in a manner that prompted the building’s security guard to call police. Boston Police who responded to the stabbing also arrived at the building after learning that the assailant resided there.
“The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and happiness. For a loved one’s life to be ripped away on Christmas Eve inflicts additional pain during this already challenging time,” District Attorney Rollins said. “The violence these two men are accused of inflicting is deeply troubling. Each will be held accountable for their actions. Just as importantly, my staff and I are here to ensure that Mr. Barthelemy’s loved ones as well as the Roxbury man currently fighting for his life and his loved ones have the services they deserve and may require at every step of their path in the legal process and on their journey toward healing.”
Elise McConnell and Anite Cetoute are the assigned victim witness advocates. Attorney Joseph Simons represents Mr. Hatfield. His case returns to court January 28, 2021. Mr. Richardson was represented at arraignment by Byron Knight. The case returns to court January 15, 2021.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Rollins: Suspect in East Boston murder will be held without bail
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Pipefitters Union Holiday Charity Drive Provides Food and Toys for Boston Families
In light of surging COVID-19 rates, record-high food insecurity, Union’s donations bring joy to families facing economic and health impacts of the pandemic
BOSTON, MA — Pipefitters Local 537, one of Boston’s largest unions, held a charitable drive Saturday at their Union Hall to collect donations to aid struggling community members this holiday season. The initiative comes at a time when thousands of families are facing food and financial insecurity with the impact of COVID-19.
“This has been a challenging year for many working families, and it can be even harder during the holidays,” said Pipefitters Local 537 Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Tom Kerr. “Giving a bag of groceries or a brand-new toy to a child this holiday season is the least we can do for our neighbors.”
Local 537 collected an estimated $20,000 of brand-new toys for Marine Toys for Tots, including Lego sets, games, dolls, and sports equipment, in addition to hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items for Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Dorchester.
“I’m blown away by the donations and kindness shown by our fellow members this weekend,” said Local 537 Organizer and Toys for Tots Coordinator Chris Brennan, whose one son is an Air Force veteran and the other is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. “As parents, we always want our kids, and every kid, to have a great, fun holiday.” In the coming days, Brennan, Marine veteran and Local 537 Inside Guard Danny O’Brien, and a team of union members will work as Santa’s helpers, coordinating with Toys for Tots to distribute the toy donations.
Dorchester, East Boston, and Hyde Park have some of the city’s highest rates of COVID-19. The severe economic impact of the pandemic has left many families without the income they depend on to pay daily living expenses. As food bank visits remain at an all-time high, Massachusetts has the highest percentage of residents facing hunger in the country, nearly one million people.
Throughout the pandemic, Local 537 has been working to help local communities. Its Charitable Foundation donated $20,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, which provided 60,000 nutritious meals to at-risk residents across the Commonwealth. The Union also donated much-needed PPE (gloves, goggles and face shields) to Quincy’s Manet Community Health Care Center.
About Pipefitters Local 537:
Pipefitters Local 537 represents over 3,000 members across Massachusetts and is affiliated with the United Association. From medical campuses to area universities, we are proud to have worked on pipefitting, welding and HVAC-Refrigeration projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the region for over 100 years.
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Melissa Shook: a Commemorative Exhibition
December 5-26, 2020
Melissa Shook:
a Commemorative Exhibition
A retrospective of work by the late artist
Curated by Krissy Shook
Reception: Saturday, December 12, 2-6pm
Please join Krissy Shook and Atlantic Works Gallery
in celebration and memory of artist and gallery member Melissa Shook
Masks and social distancing required. Gallery will be monitored to limit visitors at any given time.
Gallery Hours: Fridays and Saturdays 2-6pm or by appointment, (323-304-9968)
