UPDATED: 2 Arrested in Connection With Fatal Framingham Shooting

Originally posted at 4:13 p.m. Updated with new photo

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A 16-year-old male and a 20-year-old male have been charged with murder and an arrest warrant has been issued for a third suspect for the fatal shooting of Juan Lopez on Nov. 20 in Framingham, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Framingham Police Chief Ken Ferguson announced Thursday.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Jeremy Rodriguez, 19, of Framingham.  

It is alleged that Rodriguez shot Lopez as part of plan to steal marijuana from the victim.  Anyone who knows of Rodriguez’s whereabouts or has seen this suspect is asked to call Framingham Police Tip Line at 508-872-1212 ext. 3888 or Massachusetts State Police at 781-897-6600.

Jose Cruz, 16, of Framingham and Bryan Pertarb, 20, of Hudson were arraigned today in Framingham District Court on charges of murder, attempted armed robbery, armed assault with intent to rob, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.  Framingham District Court Judge Robert Greco ordered the defendants held without bail.  The next court date for both defendants is January 21 for pre-trial hearing.

Though Cruz is a juvenile, under Massachusetts law, defendants over age 14 who are charged with murder are prosecuted as adults.

 “We allege that these three men brutally murdered this victim as part of a robbery,” Ryan said.  “This case is frightening reminder of the violence that accompanies the business of buying and selling illegal drugs. The combination of illegal drugs and illegal guns continues to have deadly and tragic consequences.  I urge anyone with information on this suspect’s whereabouts to contact police.”

At approximately 10:57 p.m. on November 20, Framingham Police responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot at 15 Second St. in Framingham.  Upon arrival police discovered a male victim in the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim, Juan Lopez, 21, of Framingham, was transported to MetroWest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.  An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be a single gunshot wound to the chest.

It is alleged that when Lopez arrived at the location on Second Street he retrieved marijuana from the trunk of his car and then got into the driver’s seat of his vehicle.  It is alleged that Rodriguez walked up to the vehicle and fired a single gunshot through the driver’s side window, striking Lopez.  The three men then fled the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Christopher Tarrant.