Cambridge Police and Somerville Police Arrest Three Suspects Following Investigation Into Sunday Morning’s Harvard Square Shooting

The Cambridge Police Department and Somerville Police Department today announced that three suspects have been arrested in connection to Sunday morning’s shooting in Harvard Square in Cambridge. David Pleitez, 18, Somerville, Joao Bonicenha, 19, Somerville, and a 16-year-old Somerville resident were arrested following an investigation that has been ongoing since the shooting left an 18-year-old Cambridge male resident with a non-life threatening injuries.

On Sunday, May 12 at approximately 3:30 a.m., Cambridge Emergency Communications received a call regarding possible shots fired. Suspects were then reportedly seen fleeing the area towards JFK Street. Nearby Cambridge Police Officers quickly responded to the area. After canvassing the area, Officers recovered four shell casings on Eliot Street. A nearby hospital then reported that one victim - a 18-year-old Cambridge male resident - arrived on-site with non-life threatening injuries sustained from a gunshot wound. Prior to the shooting, two groups were reportedly involved in several altercations in the Harvard Square area near the Eliot Street garage.

Individuals involved in the altercations were identified by the Cambridge and Somerville Police after the Cambridge Police were able to obtain, review and circulate surveillance images with local law enforcement partners. After positively identifying the suspects from Sunday morning’s shooting, arrest warrants were secured. Pleitez, Bonicenha and the 16-year-old were taken into custody early this morning at their Somerville residences. A vehicle involved with the shooting was identified and also taken into custody at one of the residences.

Pleitez and the 16-year-old Somerville resident will face multiple charges, including Attempted Murder, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building, and Possession of Firearm without an FID Card. Bonicenha will face Attempted Murder and Accessory after the Fact charges. Pleitez and Bonicenha are expected to be arraigned later today in Cambridge District Court. The 16-year-old Somerville resident is expected to be arraigned at the Middlesex County Juvenile Court. 

“Our Officers, along with our partners at Somerville, have been aggressively working this case since the shooting occurred and I am very pleased that this concerning incident was quickly resolved,” said Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr. of the Cambridge Police Department. “We will not accept this type of behavior occurring in our safe community.”

In addition to the Somerville Police Department, the Cambridge Police Department was assisted on this investigation by the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC).

The investigation of this incident and Monday night’s separate shooting in Central Square are ongoing and the Cambridge Police ask that anyone who may have more information to contact (617) 349-3300. Those who wish to submit tips anonymously via phone, text message or e-mail, can visit http://www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/communityresources/anonymouscrimetips

The details contained above are allegations. The suspects are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.