Several suspects were arraigned in Dorchester District Court on Monday on charges tied to the Caribbean Festival chaos that injured eight people on Saturday.
“At a festival where people are supposed to be able to go have fun, relax — it’s not that anymore, we all know it — but that’s what it’s supposed to be,” said Judge Jonathan Tynes, during the arraignment of 21-year-old Maceo Withers Brown. “To celebrate rich culture, rich history, rich tradition. This ain’t it.
“Twenty-one years old, no record,” Tynes continued loudly, as Withers Brown’s mother audibly cried. “Now we’re going to ask (his mother) to come up with $25,000. I’m not saying that’s an unreasonable request. I’m saying it’s an unreasonable ask for this woman. … This is not supposed to be happening. And I recognize that she’s probably thanking God that the phone call she didn’t get from the police was to come down and identify a body.”
Those arrested on gun charges after the shooting in relation to the events and arraigned Monday include: Gerald Vick, 30; Dwayne Francis, 30; Nakhi Cox-O’Bryant, 18; Maceo Withers Brewer, 21.
Police also arrested a 17-year-old following the shooting, who has not been named due to his age and was allegedly in possession of a machine gun, and Sebastian Monteiro Fernandez, 21.
Fernandez, the only suspect charged with firing a weapon during the incident, was shot in the leg and hospitalized.
All those arraigned Monday were charged with illegally carrying firearms and possessing large capacity firearms or machine guns.
All the arraigned pleaded not guilty and were held on bails of varying amounts, from Francis’s $10,000 to Withers Brewers $1,500.
The courtroom was full of emotional families and supporters of the accused.
“My son was there to enjoy the parade,” said Francis’s mother Blu Williams. “My son thought he was doing the right thing by walking to the police and telling them about the firearm. And that was it. But instead they threw him in handcuffs.”
Francis’s lawyer requested the police body camera footage be kept, claiming Francis found the weapon after the shooting and the video would show him willingly bringing it over to the cops.
Prosecutors provided a different narrative, saying that Francis and Vick were among two rival groups antagonizing each other across Talbot Avenue near the Boys and Girls Club as the festivities kicked off that morning after 8 a.m.
As officers began to approach the groups, multiple gun shots rang out.
“Party goers began to dive for cover and run in all directions as they were in fear of being shot,” one arrest report reads.
“Historically, the weekend Caribbean Carnival Festival has elevated levels of violence,” a police report read.
During the festival, there were five non-fatal shootings, one homicide and seven firearm recoveries in 2022; two non-fatal shootings, one homicide and four firearm recoveries in 2021; and four non-fatal shootings, one homicide and eight firearm recoveries in 2020, the report reads.
“We’re still asking for the public’s support and efforts, particularly on early morning incident on Saturday morning, as we prosecute these crimes,” said Commissioner Michael Cox at a press event Monday. “It’s always good to have witnesses and evidence as possible to help us with that.”
The suspects will be back in court for probable cause hearings at various dates in the fall.
