Together with the National Shattering Silence Coalition, AOTNOW has been tracking what we characterize as Preventable Tragedies here in Massachusetts. Since October 24, 2019 there have been 129 tragedies tracked from Boston news reports alone, 60lives have been lost and many more impacted!

 

Preventable Tragedies in MA due to Untreated Serious Mental Illness
(Boston News reports)
To date there have been 129 tragedies tracked from Boston news reports alone,
64 lives have been lost and many more impacted!
January 21, 2026 Canton Police de-esacalated a mental health crisis involving an armed individual. The man
alledgely walked into the police station and threatned to shoot officers with what appeared to be a handgun. The
36 year old Canton resident continued to threaten the officers brandishing the weapon and was ultimately tased.
The gun turned out to be an air-soft gun with plastic pellets.
January 19, 2026, 58 year old Robert McCluskey, 58 drove his black BMW SUV into the front of the
Shrewsbury Police station. It was reported earlier in the day he made statements such as , “I want suicide by cop”
and “I am going to end this.” Police aid they have dealt with McCluskey before in 2019 but not further details
were provided.
January 16, 2026, 39-year-old Franklin Cederholm, of Abington, will be caught pouring gasoline all over the
chief of police’s cruiser parked in front of the police station. He was found to have a lighter and it is believed the
cruiser was going to be set on fire. Reports indicate Cederholm was experiencing a mental health crisis and is
known to police.
January 13, 2026, state police received a phone call about a man hanging from the back of a truck on the
Mass Pike. The man was reported to be in a mental health crisis. Emergency crews were called to the scene and
were able to take the man to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
January 7, 2026, 27 year old Biagion Kauvil was shot and killed at his family’s home in Hinsdale after
breaching a bedroom door where he had locked himself in. The FBI’s National Threat Operation Center had
notified local police about Kauvil, who had made a call expressing symptoms of paranoia and delusional thoughts.
During the attempt to take him into custody to send him for a mental health evaluation, an exchange of gunfire
occurred, injuring two police officers. A shot was fired by another officer, fatally striking Kauvil.
January 3, 2026 42 year old William Haney of Boston is accused of intentionally running down a man while
walking his dog on Commonwealth Ave. Both the man and dog died. Reports indicate Haney deliberately aimed
the car at the man and spared the woman nearby. Haney’s attorney reports his client has a history of mental
health issues, including schizophrenia and that his medication was changed back in August.
January 5th, Barry Howze, 55 was in court accused of raping a patient in a hospital emergency room back in
September. Howze has a lengthy history of violent, non-violent and drug offenses and mental illness, specifically
schizophrenia.
December 29, 2025, 26 year old Anthony Nunez-Romano of Methuen allegedly killed his mother with gunshot
wounds to the neck and right hip. Reports indicate Nunez-Romano had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and autism
and that his mother was often afraid of him.
December 26, 2025, James Marsh, 64 of Leominster barricaded himself inside a home. A neighbor mentioned
in an interview that the situation was sad and that "someone needs some help," suggesting a mental health issue
was involved. His wife was found dead from gunshot wounds.
December 20, 2025, a man armed with a knife experienced a mental health crisis was shot and killed in
Springfield. Police have not yet identified the officer who fired their weapon or released the name of the man who
died.
November 24, 2025, Darius Hazard, 44, of North Adams, confessed that he physically assaulted his parents
and poured gasoline on the first floor of the home and set it on fire. He is facing charges in connection with the
murder of his parents and the arson of their home. Reports found that Hazard was on an “active psychiatric hold
on October 29, 2025, less than a month before the homicides. A NewsBreak article based on police scanner
transmissions noted that a man named Darius Hazard, with an active "Section 12" mental health order, had left
the Berkshire Medical Center emergency room. A Section 12 is an emergency psychiatric hold in Massachusetts
for individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.”
October 31, Leonard Mercury, 57, broke a window at Heywood Hospital and jumped from the roof into the
bushes fleeing the property. Mercury was being held for a mental health evaluation. His wife, Nicole La Guerre
reports that he escaped with no shoes and was only wearing hospital clothes and needs medical care, including
his medication. Mercury has been missing for three weeks. Laguerre expressed her reluctance to discuss
Mercury’s mental health issues publicly, stating, “It’s not something that we talk about with people. I feel like it’s
his private business, it’s his business, so I don’t talk about it because he’s such a good person, a fun person.”
October 21, 2025, Christopher Baez, 36 of Wakefield was arrested after police responded to reports of a
stabbing near Home Depot in the South Bay shopping center. The victim, a woman whose identity has not been
released, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers say Baez ws still holding the box cutter when
they arrived and swung it at an officer before dropping the weapon. A judge ordered him to undergo a competency
evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
October 20, 2025, Coree Gonzales, 31 was arrested after he was detained for stabbing former Mayor
Flanagan of Fall River. A witness reported that he saw a guy mumbling some words and then stabbing the former
mayor in the face and neck. Gonzales also is reported to have assaulted officers while he was being detained.
Gonzales has suffered from mental illness since he was 15 years old and has a criminal record, which includes
having allegedly threatened his mother and sister in the past. He is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation.
October 14, 2025 Marie Molea-Anthony, of Boston was pronounced dead after being shot. Marie was
homeless and suffered from a severe mental illness. She previously worked as a nurse until she started
experiencing bouts of paranoia. As her condition worsened, she withdrew from the robust life she had built, a
decade-long downward spiral ultimately left her unhoused and on the streets of Boston. For two decades, Marie
lived on the streets as her family was unable to get her the medical treatment she so desperately needed that
would allow her to live a life of recovery.
October 12, 2025, an unidentified Hamilton man described as “emotionally disturbed” was taken into custody
for making threats against the Topsfield Fair. He claimed to have a bomb in his vehicle, but after a thorough sweep
by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, no bomb was found and the vehicle was deemed safe. The
individual was transported to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
September 24, 2025, Akash Kushwaha, 26 was shot by Boston Police and wounded while wielding a knife
following the report of a break-in at a restaurant in the city’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. When police arrived they
found a man naked in the back alley with a large knife and were unable to subdue him with tasers. Multiple shots
were fired with non-life threatening injuries. The owner of the restaurant stated the man appeared to be “severely
disturbed”. In June, Kushwaha was placed on pre-trail probation after being charged with breaking and entering,
indecent exposure, assault and battery and other counts records show. Conditions of that probation included that
he continue mental health treatment. Kushwaha is being held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital, where he
will be evaluated for competency.
August 28, Snehal A. Srivastava, 26, of Shrewsbury, shot and killed Kevin Doherty on his way home from
dropping his son off at school. An altercation ensued when Doherty photographed Srivastava, who was spray-
painting graffiti on a sidewalk. Srivastava was known to the police since 2015 and had undergone competency
evaluations three separate times at Bridgewater State Hospital. He was arrested in 2022 after circling a man’s
car and stabbing him with a machete. Srivastava was found in contempt of court in the past for not continuing to
receive mental health treatment. Charges were dropped on July 15 for a “lack of prosecution”.
August 5, Eric Vargas, 37 of East Boston, attacked a man with a hammer when leaving a bakery. Vargas asked
to use to man’s cellphone and when he told him he didn’t have one, Vargas struck him with a hammer in the head.
His mother reported he suffered from schizophrenia and has been off of his medications for some time. His father
believes his son needs to be held accountable saying, “If they let him go, police will be responsible because he’ll go
back to doing the same or worse. It’s one problem after the next.”
August 5, 2025 reports of a police standoff on Fremont Street in Worcester indicated it began as a domestic
incident. While a mental health professional was not mentioned in relation to this specific event, a similar incident in
2023 had a mental health clinician on the scene.
August 1, Priciano Faustin, 51 of Cambridge, was taken into custody after police resolved an 18-hour standoff
inside the apartment building where he resides. Police first interacted with Faustin, who was swinging two large
machete-type knives around at a bus stop. He slashed a bystander in the head, who was transported to the
hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. During the standoff, police worked with crisis negotiators and mental
health clinicians.
July 31, Admilson Vizcaino, 33 of Malden, was arrested after stealing a garbage truck and going on a police
chage. He was shot by police when he failed to follow commands to drop the knife he was holding. He had
attempted to steal multiple vehicles earlier in the day and was reported acting erratically at a local gas station.
Vizcaino was transported to the hospital and is critical condition.
July 23, Katie Mearn, 40 was arrested after allegedly breaking into a South End apartment, eating, bathing and
stealing jewelry from the resident while they were away. Mearn is believed to be unhoused and had several active
warrants.
July 15, the Fall River Police Department responded to an incident for an evaluation of a man who was running
naked holding a tree branch. No updates yet available.
July 15, Domonick Knight, 38 of Fall River was shot and killed after an armed standoff with police in Fall River
while experiencing a mental health crisis. Family called police as Knight was armed and had intentions of hurting
himself. A trained crisis negotiator was unsuccessful. Knight began shooting at Emergency Services Unit Officers
who arrived to assist during the standoff.
July 11th, Francis Gigliotti, 43 of Haverhill was behaving erratically and running into the middle of the street. It
was reported he hit a car with his head and kept running. Police found Gigliotti and called an ambulance for help.
When he tried to run into the Bradford Seafood restaurant, police restrained him for safety reasons at which time
he became unresponsive. It was reported that Gigliotti suffered from mental health issues.
June 30th, Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 28 of North Andover was shot by another police officer while
attempting to serve her with a restraing order to remove her gun following an armed confrontation. According to
court documents, Fitzsimmons was hospitalized after she was diagnosed with postpartum depression earlier in
2025. Her police gun was turned over to the department during this time. Documents show the police
department approved Fitzsimmon’s return to duty and reinstated her license to carry firearms. In the restraining
order filed against her, her fianće wrote that he feared for his safety and the safety of their son, saying in part he
feared, “she would kill the baby at any moment.”
June 28th, Andrew Horsman, 41 of MIddleboro, stabbed his mother’s long-term partner, Paul Pomerleau, after
an argument over steaks. Horsman then poured lighter fluid on the victim’s body after the stabbing and intended
to “light him on fire.” A relative told investigators the family had discussed seeking mental health care for Horsman
and that Pomerleau had previously expressed concerns about his potential for violence.
June 23, Akram El Moukhtari, 18 years old of Revere, hit a Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant with a stolen
motorcycle and left the scene. Lieutenant Donald Bossi was struck and thrown 40 feet and was critically
injured. El Moukhtari turned himself in later that night with his father who said his son suffers from ADHD and
other mental health issues.
June 20, Adam Zwetchkenbaum, 39 years old, was reported to be yelling at cars without a shirt on. When
police arrived, he was noted to have been smashing something. Zwetchkenbaum retreated back into his house and
returned with a machete and threatened officers. This resulted in a police standoff. Eventually he was arrested
and transported to the hospital for an evaluation. Zwetchkenbaum is known to police.
May 27, Elvis Haughton, 46 years old, of Boston, grabbed a police officer’s gun near Mass General Hospital
and shot himself in the foot. The suspect was thought to be experiencing a mental health crisis. A bystander
reported that the suspect was “a little disoriented.”
May 20, the Beverly Police Department was called to an apartment complex on Rantoul Street for a report of
an individual experiencing a mental health crisis who may be armed. After about three hours of negotiations, the
individual who was barricaded inside of an apartment surrendered peacefully.
May 19, Raymond Nydam, 53 years old of Worcester, was involved in a nine and a half hour standoff with
police. Police were dispatched to his house for a report of a check on the welfare at which time they were told the
resident was making threats.
“
Upon arrival, officers determined that the resident bolted his door shut and that
the threats possibly involved explosives. Officers took positions outside the residence and the resident, fifty-three-
year-old Raymond Nydam, aimed what appeared to be a rifle at one of them while shouting threats. Upon arrival,
officers determined that the resident bolted his door shut and that the threats possibly involved explosives and
appeared to have a rifle. Officers took cover and called in the Crisis Negotiation Team. Mr. Nydam shouted at
officers and threw items out of the residence many times. He also armed himself with what appeared to be a
samurai sword. Officers attempted to negotiate for hours. The SWAT team was also called in to assist. After
about nine-and-a-half hours, Mr. Nydam came out of the apartment and was placed under arrest. He is charged
with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
May 17, Andrew Oprian, 27 of Belmont is accused of attacking a car with a hatchet during a fit of road rage.
Oprian had a similar incident in 2021. His psychologist, Dr. Eric Brown, testified that Oprian was diagnosed and
hospitalized with bipolar disorder, and at times does not recognize what he has done. It was reported that Oprian
is o numerous medications but has been resisting them in recent years. Ever since Oprians friend passed away,
he has been in a manic state. In March, Oprian told police he was in the mafia and had an AK-47. Brown told the
court Oprian is only a risk to himself or others if he isn’t on medication and in routine therapy to stay on it.
May 17, James Brett St. Clair, 38 of Arlington, was arrested after allegedly stealing a pickup truck with a trailer
of rowboats as he drove along a bike path and then into Cambridge, damaging and destroying all of the boats and
trailers before he was finally stopped in Belmont. It was reported he wasn’t making any sense when he was pulled
out of the truck. He was ordered by the judge for a competency evaluation.
May 14, Cornelius Williams, 34, of Boston, allegedly followed a woman into her apartment in the North End. He
grabbed her feet and started licking them. Her screams scared the man away, and he ran down the street.
Williams' attorney says he suffers from mental health issues.
May 11, a man entered the Burlington Mall, telling a cashier that there was going to be a shooting. Investigators
determined the identity of the suspect and located him. They determined he had no access to firearms and was
experiencing a mental health crisis.
May 9, 2025, Wilfredo Burgos, 45 was arrested after attacking a Malden man who was visiting his son at
Tufts Medical Center. Burgos is homeless, and according to reports by the man’s wife, he was yelling and
screaming things as they walked outside of the hospital. Burgos then attacked the man and sliced his face,
resulting in 56 stitches. The victim in this case says that he feels lucky to be alive.
On or about April 21, 2025, Maxim Vasilyov, 49, of Brighton, was arrested per reports of his mother. Maxim
suffers from schizoaffective disorder and has been off his medication for over a year. His mother reports that he
has been psychotic cycling in and out of the hospital. The National Shattering Silence Coalition has been working
with Maxim’s mother for over two months, after it was reported that her son was dropped from services because
“he wasn’t following the rules”. He has been threatening to “kill and rape” people, which then progressed to taking
dumbells outside to “hurt people who would not listen to him because he was the creator.” Despite calling a co-
response team, contacting the Department of Mental Health and trying to reconnect Maxim to services, he
remained in the community until his recent arrest. A newspaper report from 2006 indicated he was arrested for
assault and battery as he attempted to knock down an acquaintance's door and threatened to kill them. Almost
two decades later, Maxim is still cycling in and out of the criminal justice system and involuntary hospitalizations
because of untreated psychosis.
April 21, 2025, Omar Riaz, 26, was arrested after officers responded to a radio call for a possible domestic
violence incident. A woman was found dead in the apartment. Riaz allegedly fled shirtless and tried to steal a car.
He was tasered, and a weapon was recovered. Riaz is being held for a competency restoration. Riaz was training
to be a professional boxer, reported to always be friendly by a neighbor, but had begun acting increasingly
erratically in recent months.
April 15, 2025, Nicholas Akerberg, 28, of Yarmouth Port, stormed the Woburn District Court wearing a gas
mask and began attacking people with pepper spray. Akerberg has a history of arrests and using pepper spray.
His lawyer told the court he is mentally ill and described him as sounding completely deranged. Ackerberg was
sent for a mental health evaluation.
March 25, 2025, Patrick Sargent of Boylston was shot and killed by police after threatening to kill his family
members. Sargent had a knife and was threatening to kill the police dog. “According to the report, the officers
could see Sargent making a downward stabbing motion toward the dog's torso. Lawlor entered and got between
Sargent and the dog. He grabbed Sargent's right wrist as Sargent swung the knife left to right, near
Lawlor's face. Falling backward and thinking that Sargent was trying to kill him, the officer drew his gun and fired
five shots.
March 4, 2025, Alina Dunham, 24 of Quincy, is accused of ramming a Massachusetts State Police cruiser
with a stolen vehicle before leading troopers on a chase. The van was reported to be driving erratically on I-93.
Alina was charged with stealing a Boston Fire vehicle in February 2021 and two months later in April was
charged with stealing a U-Haul and driving recklessly. It was reported alcohol was not involved.
March 4, 2025, Thaddeus Joseph, 22, of Avon, allegedly killed his mother, who was found facedown in the
kitchen in a pool of blood and a bloodied carving knife near her body. Joseph’s father reported that his son had
been experiencing mental health issues, including anxiety and feelings of self-harm. Police reported that Joseph
was acting erratically upon arrest.
March 2, 2025, Lemark Jaramillo, 32, was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer after Jaramillo chased
two people into a Back Bay Chick-fil-A with a knife. After refusing repeated orders to drop the weapon, the
officer opened fire. A family member informed police that Jaramillo was experiencing a mental health crisis at the
time of the event. Separately, a family spokesperson described Jaramillo as a non-aggressive person who worked
two jobs to help his family. Earlier on the day of the incident, a local store owner reported that Jaramillo had been
acting strangely and shouting "the world is going to end"8
January 15, 2025, Kevin Coelho, crashed his vehicle into a building after previously crashing his vehicle into a
bank two days earlier. The woman who was held against her will and in the passenger seat called police. After
speaking with the man, police noticed he was in a “state of altered mental status”. Coelho allegedly had been
making comments which were suicidal/homicidal in nature and there were reports of concern regarding his
access to firearms. He is currently being held at Bridgewater State Hospital. He had asked the officer during the
first crash if he knew how to check the electronics to see if the electronics inside of his car were hacked and told
officers he would not leave the bank unti the “CIA” arrived. Coelho is an army veteran who served in Afghanistan,
where he was injured and received a purple heart. It was reported that the sergeant had spoken to a charge nurse
at Cape Cod Hospital stating that Coelho should be evaluated by a mental health professional and was advised
that it was hospital policy not to evaluate any person under arrest. Ultimately he was released from Barnstable
District Court after his arraignment and the second crash happened putting other lives in danger once again.
January 7, 2025, Angel Torres Morales, 23 was arrested after opening the door on a plane taxiing out of
Logan Airport. At arraignment, his attorney said he suffered from a psychotic episode and did not remember what
had happened. Morales suffers from mental health issues and was ordered to continue with mental health
assessment and treatment, including medication.
December 15, 2024, a police officer in Fitchburg shot a man who was making “suicidal statements” and
allegedly pointed his gun at the officer.
December 11, 2024, a barricaded man was found dead after an overnight standoff at an Allston apartment
building. Details have not yet been released.
December 11, 2024, a man in his late 20’s was taken into custody after a three-hour standoff in Methuen.
Police could not give details as this was considered a “domestic violence” incident.
December 8, 2024, a man was sent to the hospital for a medical evaluation after he was spotted running
around train tracks in Charlestown in his undergarments and a submerged vehicle was recovered form the water
nearby.
November 18, 2024, Heather MacKinnon, 61 of Plainville was arrested after allegedly lighting her furniture on
fire in her apartment complex and displacing more than 20 of her neighbors. Representation for McKinnon
believes this is a result of mental health issues and asked the court for an evaluation.
November 7, 2024, Nikolas Rescigno, 31 of Hyannis is accused of stabbing a teenage girl in a random and
unprovoked attack in a Dollar Tree store. He had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court from
another incident involving a knife at the Cape Cod Mall in May of 2023. Rescigno has a known history of
mental illness.
September 30, 2024, Alan Eugene Stec, 61 year old of East Bridgewater, attacked a pickup truck driver
biting his arm and then attempted to run him and his passengers over while standing in the yard. Stec attempted to
take off in his vehicle toward a wooded area in the back of his house before he tried to flee on foot. Officers used
a stun gun to take Stec into custody. Stec told the judge he did not hit anyone and that he was hoping to go to a
job interview on Tuesday. He is due back in court on Wednesday for a dangerousness hearing and a mental health
evaluation.
September 24, 2024, Christian Alexander from Reading was arrested on suspicion of cutting his mother and
father with a razor blade. Alexander’s father was found at the home bleeding profusely from the neck, while his
mother was slashed across the chest. “I just had a psycho attack, I didn’t mean it,” Alexander told the arresting
officer. It was reported by his mother that her son has substance abuse and mental health issues.
September 23, 2024, Djeff Josa, 29 years old of Taunton, was arrested after hitting multiple police cars in
Weymouth. Police responded to an incident reporting that a man was acting erratically in a laundromat, yelling
profanities and hitting machines. He was taken to a nearby hospital for an evaluation. Josa was seen in court
bobbing his head up and down, side to side, and dancing while being arraigned in court.
September 20, 2024, Tyler Dow Baglini 31 of Dartmouth is accused of stabbing Kerri Fidalgo of New Bedford
whom he had a relationship with. Ballini had gone to St. Luke’s Hospital after he allegedly stabbed Fidalgo, and
brought with him a kitchen knife believed to be the murder weapon. Police were called when Baglini claimed his
girlfriend was stabbed at her residence. He told police that serial killers had killed his girlfriend and that he ran to
the hospital when he saw another serial killer. Fidalgo’s phone messages revealed she was telling him he was
acting paranoid and needed to get help and take his medication. On October 28, 2025 Baglini plead guilty to
2nd degree murder with tears running down his face. Beglini pleaded guilty, pending an indictment against him, in
exchange for life in prison whith the possibiliyt of parole after 25 years.
August 20, 2024, John Madej, 51 years old of South Boston, was arrested after chasing people with a large
knife. Madej is an unregistered sex offender with a history of serious mental illness. He reportedly swore at the
judge in court and his public defender. It was reported that Madej had stopped taking his medication and was
exhibiting signs of psychosis. Madej, who was already wanted on a warrant for failing to register as a sex
offender, was scheduled to appear in court on September 10, after spending 20 days at Bridgewater State
Hospital.
August 19, 2024, Jennifer Paez, 35 years old, killed her nine month old baby boy before taking her own life.
Court documents revealed that Paez had a long history of mental illness and known to police. There were reports
that she made irrational comments in the past about being ‘God’ and was speaking in different dialects that did
not make sense to officers. Just one month earlier police were called to the home on Turnpike Street for a
domestic incident. Paez was allegedly demanding a DNA test, suddenly believing she was not her mother’s
biological daughter.
August 15, 2024, Matthew Paluzzi, 26 years old, allegedly killed his 76 year old father by stabbing him in the
neck. Anthony was found on the couch by his mother. Paluzzi was living with his parents after he allegedly pointed
a gun at an ATM drive-thru employee in 2020 and asked her if she wanted to die. He had been on probation
and through several mental health treatment programs. Paluzzi’s attorney asked for money for a forensic
psychologist.
July 27, 2024, Kymani Walker, 19 years old, allegedly stabbed a man outside of the Liberty Hotel. It was
reported that the suspect “lunged at the victim with knife several times” and that the victim shouted, “I don’t know
you.” Walker was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.
July 4, 2024, Manuel Cardoso, 44 years old, was sent for a mental health evaluation after he was reported
to have urinated on the side of a house in Dorchester and attempted to kidnap a child. The man was asked to
leave the area when found urinating in public at which time he grabbed a child by the back of the neck and tried to
drag him toward the street. A forensic psychologist reported that the man was unable to have any coherent
conversation.
June 26, 2024, Prasiddha Baruwal, 28 of Everett was accused of setting fire to the Squealing Pig in Mission
Hill. Baruwal was a former employee of the restaurant and was fired for inappropriate behavior. He was arraigned
after a 20 day stay at Bridgewater State Hospital after being found not competent to stand trial.
June 6, 2024, Jessica Cavallaro, 24 of Bedford shot both her parents and killed them. Jessica left work early
because of a panic attack and she told her boyfriend’s father she was going to get breakfast with her parents who
lived nearby. Upon entering the back of her parent’s SUV, she shot them both in the back of the head with a gun
believed to have been taken from a safe inside the home she was living in. She was ordered for a psychiatric
evaluation.
May 25, 2024, Jared Ravizza, 26 of Chilmark was arrested after stabbing 4 young girls inside a Braintree
movie theater. He was reported to have been laughing as he stabbed them. Ravizza then fled to Plymouth where
he stabbed two McDonald’s employees. He is also a suspect in a homicide in Connecticut. Ravizza attacked his
father in April and was released by Martha’s Vineyard Hospital as he did not meet the dangerousness criteria to
be held at that time.
May 22, 2024, Dominique Long 31, was shot by police after being called to the scene in Malden with reports
that “The guy was acting pretty crazy.” Long was arguing with a woman and was armed with a knife being
aggressive. After refusing to drop the knife and being tased, Long was shot as he advanced on the officers.
May 7, 2024, Ygor Barboza, 24 of Barnstable was accused of stabbing his 62 year-old father. He reported
“God made him do it” and “we’re all children of God.” Witnesses told police he was heard saying he was “the king
of Egypt”. The attorney representing Barboza reported that he suffered from mental illness and the family was
unable to get him the help he needed.
April 17, 2024 30 year old Ladarrell Murchison appeared in court for throwing multiple Molotov cocktails into a
childhood friend’s home. The victim reports that he then yelled expletives and had no idea why he would do this.
His attorney reports that he suffers from mental illness and needs help, not jail.
April 5, 2024, Michael Williams 51 of Bridgewater was charged with assault and battery on a police officer,
trespassing, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct after police were called to city hall for a man yelling racial
slurs, being combative and asked to leave the building. He was committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for a
mental health evaluation. There had been reports that he had been at a previous meeting and people in attendance
feared he was going to hurt someone.
March 18, 2024, Genesis Hurtado, 26 of Chelsea was arrested on charges that she set fires inside 3 East
Boston stores. Her lawyer stated there are competency issues and Hurtado is currently being held without bail
awaiting a competency evaluation.
March 14, 2024, Elismar Ferreira of Weymouth was subdued with a taser gun after driving a limousine
erratically near an elementary school. HIs attorney told the judge Ferreira struggles with his mental health and was
distraught because he hadn’t seen his son in two months.
March 6, 2024, 30 year old Justin Moreira was accused of holding his mother at knifepoint and shooting at
police in a Hyannis standoff. He was scheduled to attend court that morning for previously threatening to shoot
up a school in May of 2022. His mother reported that he stated, “The Feds are going to get me, I am going to
get killed”.
February 29, 2024 Mariam Dealmedia 38 of Boston was arrested after robbing a bank in South Boston.
Delmeida’s lawyer said she suffers from mental illness and addiction.
February 21, 2024, a man was arrested in Boston after pushing a 69 year old victim towards the tracks at the
subway station.
February 19, 2024 police received a call to perform a well-check on a Marshfield woman. 42 year old Gina
Martell exhibited delusional and paranoid behavior and attacked two officers with a ceramic figure injuring them.
Martell has an extensive history, including multiple violent encounters with the police. She is known to conceal
weapons within her clothes and body.
February 16, 2024 Emmanual Lopes was found guilty of murdering Weymouth police sergeant and a 77 year
old woman back in 2018. His mom reported that he had a long history of schizophrenia (his father and other
family members had schizophrenia), slit his throat when he was in high school and she begged the hospital to keep
him 4 weeks earlier. She was told that he reported not wanting to hurt himself or others thus he couldn’t be kept.
This was a retrial after a mistrial over the summer when jurors could not come to an agreement on the verdict.
February 6, 2024 Joseph Hurley 62 of Danvers was arraigned in the hospital after allegedly shooting his wife
4 times and asking the judge if she was dead. He is being treated for undisclosed medical issues. His wife was in
critical condition and Hurley was taken to the hospital for a wound on his chest that apparently was self-inflicted.
January 31, 2024 44 year old Jonathan Paluzzi was arrested after he allegedly tried to poison his dog with
fentanyl before stabbing it to death. A judge ordered him to undergo a 20 day evaluation at Bridgewater State
Hospital to determine his criminal responsibility and competency to stand trial. Paluzzi's attorney said the case
serves as "an example of why we need better mental health treatment and early intervention services.
January 20, 2024 53 year old Michael Ortega barricaded himself inside his Wilbraham home after suspects
daughter texted 911 fearing for her and her mother's life. She reported that her father was threatening to shoot
them. Gunfire was exchanged injuring a 29 year old police officer. Ortega was found in the breezeway with
gunshot wounds and transported to the hospital. Both the child and mother escaped without harm. It was reported
that Ortega suffered from anger issues and depression.
December 29, 2023, A SWAT team was called to a Mattapan building hours before the man shot at firefighters.
Officers were called and spoke to the man who was experiencing psychosis. The officers left when the man
refused to come out of his apartment. 48 year old Julius Allen Owens was arrested 8 hours later after shooting
at firefighters when they were called to put out a fire in that building at which time Owens began shooting at
them. He was arrested after jumping out a window, paranoid that people were chasing him.
December 27, 2023, a 21 year old male was arrested in Cambridge after attacking his father and almost killing
him. He was experiencing extreme bipolar psychosis, has a history of being homeless, released from programs on
several occasions for non-compliance, and refused services from DMH as he didn’t believe he was ill. Eleven
months later the attack on his father took place and he is now at Bridgewater State Hospital. (Story reported by
his Mother)
December 6, 2023, Samuel Patillo, 36 was pronounced dead after officers used pepper spray and tased him.
Police were called to the Dedham home after a 911 call to alert police that two family members had been stabbed.
New reports indicated that Patillo was showing signs of mental and physical distress at the scene before being
taken to the hospital.
November 8, 2023, Cheryl Rios, 50 years old of Stoneham, was arrested after stabbing her 81 year old
mother and adult daughter in their home. She was reported to be having a mental health crisis.
November 2, 2023 17 year old Lucas Larson of Sharon allegedly killed his father whose body was found in their
home. His body was said to have sustained "obvious injury" Larson was ordered to undergo a mental competency
evaluation after a court psychologist said the 17 year old didn't understand what was going on.
October 22, 2023, Aaron Pennington, 33 of Gardner, is wanted in connection with shooting his 30-year-old
wife Breanne while his 4 children were in the house. Breanne’s aunt reported that Aaron was suffering from
mental health issues and it was a failure of the mental health system.
June 25, 2023, Christopher Ferguson 41, allegedly killed three people in Newton. It was reported that he had
been manic since February and had recently been discharged from the hospital despite family believing he was not
stable. The family had repeatedly been trying to get Christopher help. He has a long known history of bipolar
disorder.
June 1, 2023, Daniel Uhlman, 53 of Westboro, killed his mother in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn. Prosecutors
said Ulman had been staying at the hotel since the beginning of May. He alledgedly asked his mother to come and
visit him at the hotel with the intention of killing her.
May 28, 2023, April Monroe, 48, from Somerville was charged with strangling her mother. She had a known
history of mental illness though not violence. She told police she found her mother with blood coming out of her
mouth and then went to a club to listen to music.
May 14, 2023, 23 year old Shawn O’Connell was shot by an Oxford Police officer when charging him with a
sword. The officer encountered O’Connell at 6AM in the roadway with a sword in hand.
March 15, 2023, 38 year old Jonathan Pinney of Boston was arrested for attempting to lift his disabled wife
out of a wheelchair and throw her into the Fort Point Channel. Pinney told officers that he believed his wife was
an imposter and was attempting to dump her into the channel. He was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for an
evaluation.
March 13, 2023, Dion Pelzer whose last known residence was The Pine Street Inn was arrested after being
called to Boston Medical Center for a disturbance. Pelzer is accused of slashing a stranger’s throat before eating
the 75 year old victim’s food and sleeping on his couch in the West End. Other reports indicate Pelzer has a long
history of severe mental illness and has been seen wandering the streets.
March 9, 2023, Monica Velez-Carbello, 35 of Mattapan attacked a 13 year old boy with a jagged can while he
was waiting for a bus with his friends at Andrew Station. The woman was walking around the bus stop yelling
obscenities and told police officers the boy threw a chemical on her face & it was burning though there was no
evidence to support her claims.
March 5, 2023, Francisco Torres, 33 of Leominster was acting erratically on a plane from Los Angeles to
Boston after attempting to open the exit door while in the air. He was speaking nonsensically threatening people
and attacked a flight attendant with a spoon that was broken in half. Torres has a long-known history of mental
illness.
February 5, 2023, Marianne Griffiths 56 of Easton was shot dead by police after her son called for a wellness
check. Marianne has known mental health issues and suicidal ideation. Police had been to her house on previous
occasions for threats of harming herself. She appeared in the doorway with what looked to be a rifle and was shot
at that time. The gun was found to be a BB gun. Some believe the response was overkill with approximately 35
cruisers being sent to her street.
January 24, 2023, Lindsay Clancy of Duxbury was found in her home by her husband after jumping out a
window. Her 3 children were found strangled. It is speculated that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis.
This devastating tragedy should bring much-needed awareness to the way other psychotic disorders are treated in
Massachusetts. Current law is a barrier to getting medically necessary treatment for those most at risk.
December 27, 2022 Alexandra Eckersley gave birth in N.H. woods and left her newborn in a freezing tent. The
family reports,
“Allie has suffered from severe mental illness her entire life. Allie was hospitalized numerous times
for her illness and lived in several residential programs. We did our very best to get Allie all of the help and support
humanly possible. Once Allie became an adult there was even less we could do because she was legally free to
make her own decisions as long as she was not a danger to herself and others. Under existing laws, there was
simply no way to force her to receive treatment. Nonetheless, we continued to support her as best we could.” The
family lives/lived in Massachusetts.
Latasha Sanders of Brockton was ordered to spend the rest of her life behind bars Wednesday, December 28,
2022 for murdering two of her children in 2018, an act of violence her family believes was caused by
overpowering mental illness and a crime that led the sentencing judge to invoke the words of an ancient Greek
poet. Sander’s mother told police that before the boys’ deaths, her daughter had become obsessed with the
illuminati and ritual sacrifices. Her mother believed Sanders was mentally ill but said she refused to seek
treatment.
December 27, 2022 in Dorchester, 45 year old Nikia Rivera set a triple decker house on fire. She told police
that she
“had to” light the house on fire, saying the house was haunted and that
“The devil made me do it.” She
also believed ghosts were in her house. Rivera was ordered to undergo evaluation at a state mental health facility in
Worcester.
December 23, 2022 in Quincy, 18 year old Gustavo Woodward attacked a woman near the MBTA station and
tried to remove her clothing. Woodward was hearing voices and had a history of bipolar disorder. He is being
evaluated at Bridgewater State Hospital.
December 18, 2022 35 year old Brien Buckley of Cohasset was arrested after trying to cut through the front
of the police station with a chainsaw after calling police and requesting that they watch his two children. He went
back to his house and was dangling his children out the window. After an hourslong negotiation, he was arrested
and taken to Bridgewater for evaluation and is known to have a long psychiatric history.
November 30, 2022 Christopher Keeley 27 years old of Weymouth is a suspect in killing an elderly Marshfield
couple and their dog. He was living with the couple. He is known to have a history of mental illness and prior
involvement with the court.
September 30, 2022 in Truro, 34 year old Adam Howe killed his mother and set her on fire. Police responded
to a wellness check. Family reports he has known mental health issues. Adam was ordered for involuntary
commitment by a Judge at 3am in the morning but was refused by Bridgewater State Hospital due to
administrative errors (noted it needed to be a section 19). Adam was placed in Ash St. jail in New Bedford on 15
minute checks due to his suicidal risk and found dead. He clogged his nostrils and airways with wet toilet paper.
Two lives tragically lost because of a broken mental health care system in Massachusetts.
April 8, 2022 in Middleton, 54 year old Paul Salvaggio is accussed of stabbing his 13 year old daughter and
wife in their home. He was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.
March 15, 2022 in Boston, 23 year old Najee Herbert, stabbed his mother to death after an argument over a
suicide note she found in his phone. Najee had no criminal record. He had self-inflicted wounds and was brought to
the hospital. The judge has ordered Najee to be transferred to Bridgewater State Hospital for a psychiatric
evaluation.
February 12, 2022 in Lexington, Brendan Reilly, a 35 year old man belonging to a group home that housed
those with mental illness was found in the driveway brandishing a knife. He did not follow commands to drop the
knife. With bean bag projectiles being unsuccessful in stopping him, he was shot and killed by police.
January 23, 2022 in Burlington, 42 year old Paul Courtemanche is in critical condition after being shot by
officers outside of his apartment building. Officers responded to the apartment complex after the man called 911
reporting he was experiencing a mental health crisis. The man came outside wielding a knife refusing to drop it. He
later died.
January 19, 2022 in Boston on Mass Ave. 39 year old Carmen Polito of Brockton was chased by police while
acting erratically and wielding a knife. He was chased by police and apprehended and is now facing two counts of
assault by means of a dangerous weapon and one count of resisting arrest. Mr. Polito has known mental health
issues and was found by police praying to the sky, speaking irrationally and had tried to carjack someone stuck
in traffic.
December 14, 2021 The skeletal remains of Brad Cappucci, 33 years old were found in Darby Canyon,
Wyoming. Brad, who suffered from schizophrenia, was last seen by his sister and mother in August of 2019 in a
Massachusetts courtroom at a commitment hearing. Brad’s mother, sister, and a psychiatrist were fighting to
have him held against his will for treatment. The judge didn’t find any evidence of violence, suicide or abuse thus
denied hospitalization. He was released and this was the last time his family saw him. His remains were found by a
hiker out with his dog in Darby Canyon where he had been living since mid-September.
December 2, 2021 in Somerville 28 year old Shakeel Bodden stabbed his sister’s 33 year old boyfriend to
death. Bodden was acting very strangely looking at the victim as if he had done something wrong. The victim
went downstairs to try and get away but Bodden followed when a fight ensued. Bodden has a history of
schizophrenia, was sectioned to a mental health facility in mid-November and released on Monday.
November 26, 2021 in Winchester at Middlesex Falls Reservation, 28 year old Brady McCue attacked a woman
with a rock, raped her repeatedly, and left her for dead. Brady has a long history of schizophrenia and was
followed by DMH. Brady was released from Anna Jaques Hospital on Monday before the attack and his father
noted that he was starting to show signs of aggression on Thanksgiving Day.
November 9, 2021 in Dorchester 29 year old Nadeem Patrick struck a girl with a pipe before attempting to
sexually assault her near a Dorchester school. He suffers from schizophrenia.
November 9, 2021 in Dorchester 37 year old Dashaun Wright was involved in a standoff with police at his home.
Three officers were injured and Dashaun was shot and killed. He was known to police and had a long history of
mental illness.
August 14, 2021 in Saugus 38 year old Stephanie Gerardi was shot and killed by police when they were called
to her house by a family member as she was experiencing a mental health crisis. She was
“brandishing” a knife
and had known mental health illness. Stephanie was described by a friend as
“kind, sweet and loving”. She leaves
two children behind.
July 31, 2021, 65 year old Jean Paul Durand struck a nurse with a fire extinguisher causing a brain bleed and
broken finger. Durand was a homeless mentally ill man; he was found not criminally responsible for several other
charges but found guilty of assault charges for the attack and received a two year suspended sentence with
probation.
June 28, 2021, 19 year old Jack Callahan allegedly drown his father in a Duxbury Pond. Jack told investigators
he was trying to exorcise his father’s demonic spirits, one of which he referred to as “Dirty Dan.” He went on to
say that he was baptizing his father, dunking his head in the water about 4-8 times.
June 21, 2021 in Springfield 43 year old Jose Montanez was exhibiting bizarre behavior waving a gun,
fortunately police were able to intervene without anyone being hurt. Montanez is known to the criminal justice
system with a criminal record and reports have indicated that his bizarre behavior was due to mental illness. This
could have been a very tragic outcome, despite his multiple arrests he continues to be let back out on the streets.
Untreated mental illness is a danger to the public yet many are released back onto the streets without adequate
treatment as Montanez has been in the past.
May 9, 2021 in Leicester 24 year old Zachary Richardson drove his car into a police station. He was shot and
killed. Zachary was known to have mental health and drug abuse problems.
March 4, 2021 in Haverhill 23 year old Jake Kavanaugh attacked 54 year old Janet Blanchard and her 26
year old pregnant daughter while they were walking their dogs. He suffers from mental health illness.
February 8, 2021 in East Bridgewater 42 year old Steven Walcott Jr. killed his father. He lived with bipolar
disorder. His family repeatedly tried to get him help.
January 5, 2021 in Newton 28 year old Michael Conlon was shot and killed by police when called to a candy
store by the owner who was afraid when Conlon was trying to talk to her with a knife in hand. He suffered from
known mental health issues and was off of his medications. Many described him as a
“gentle giant”.
December 18, 2020 in Mashpee 26 year old Andrew Bailey strangled and punched his mother killing her
because he thought she was a spy. He had a history of mental health illness and had been recently released from
the hospital.
December 10, 2020 in Middleborough Ryan True 21 years old with bipolar disorder brutally stabbed his parents.
He lived with bipolar disorder and was off of his medications.
November 16, 2020 in Wayland Richard Kane Jr. 41 years old, killed his mother and took his own life. He
battled mental health issues.
November 2, 2020 in Winchester Thomas Celona 35 year old suffered from mental illness and was under the
influence of drugs when police responded to a 911 call that two men had broken into his apartment. Officers heard
furniture being tossed and forced their way inside, where they found Celona alone, stabbing a sliding glass door
with kitchen knives. He did not respond to police instructions to put the knife down and was shot and killed. He
was known by police officers and known to suffer from mental illness. He had been hospitalized just a week before
for confused and bizarre behavior but was allowed to sign himself out.
September 8, 2020, Shaun Holiday of Brockton shot his pregnant girlfriend in the head with their three young
children nearby. Conditions of Holiday’s probation terms include that Holiday stay away from and have no
contact with his victims, unless authorized by probate court; have GPS monitoring with the exclusion zones of
home, work and school; abide by the restraining order, abide by Probate Court orders, undergo a mental health
evaluation and follow treatment recommendations, with release to be signed to probation; and participate in a
intimate partner abuse prevention program.
March 2020, John Brittan 27 of Amesbury killed his mother and injured his father after stabbing them. John
suffers from schizophrenia telling police that his
“alleged mother” had kidnapped and tried to poison him.
February 27, 2020, Zackery Grandy, 22 of Dorchester was taken into custody for the murder of his mother.
His defense attorney reports that he struggled with mental illness over the years, has no touch with reality, and
can’t hold a conversation with him.
February 7, 2020 Juston Root 41 year old who lived with bipolar and schizoaffective disorder was shot and
killed by police in Boston while experiencing a mental health crisis.
October 24, 2019 Sean Murphy 21 year old fatally stabbed his mother in their Plainville home. He heard voices
in his head telling him to kill his mother. He believed the CIA and National Security Agency had planted devices in
his head. Patrick Murphy, Sean’s Dad, described Sean as a supportive and empathetic peer counselor at college.
Sean was a talented, intelligent writer who finished his four year bachelor’s degree in three years, was a
nonviolent person and never had behavior problems.