Man wanted in Lowell killing found with dead man’s gun

LOWELL — The man wanted for Friday’s slaying of a Lowell resident inside his Wilder Street home was caught by a sharp-eyed cop and allegedly found with the dead man’s stolen gun, according to police and prosecutors.

Police said Anthony “Tony” Massetti, 53, who has no known address, was taken into custody without incident in Chelmsford on Monday afternoon.

Massetti was charged with murder on Monday, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Kelly Richardson announced in a press conference hours after the capture.

Massetti is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in Lowell District Court in connection with the death of 51-year-old Eril Ligonde, a former captain with the Middlesex Country Sheriff’s Office.

Massetti was tracked down by Chelmsford Police at around 1:30 p.m. Monday, Ryan revealed outside her office in Woburn. The 53-year-old was located along railroad tracks, in an area known to be frequented by members of the homeless community, she said. A Chelmsford officer had gone to that area in search for Massetti.

Massetti was found in possession of a handgun thought to belong to Ligonde, according to Ryan.

The alleged murder came to light at around 5:10 p.m. Saturday, when Lowell Police responded to a 911 call made by a tenant of the Wilder Street residence. The tenant said he had been searching for Ligonde and found him unresponsive in the home.

Police found the victim on the floor, suffering apparent blunt force trauma. Ligonde was pronounced dead at the scene. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office ruled on Sunday the cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was a homicide, according to Ryan.

“The investigators subsequently determined that Mr. Massetti was known to Mr. Ligonde and had been at the residence in the days leading up to the attack,” Ryan said. “A preliminary investigation suggests Mr. Massetti attacked Mr. Ligonde before fleeing that residence.”

Preliminary investigation shows the killing took place in the basement, and Massetti allegedly stole Ligonde’s handgun after the violent act, the DA said.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2nhxsYm