Anderson Jorge Cruz, 21, was arraigned today in Salem Superior Court in connection with the shooting death of Juan Bautista Mejia Arias, 39, in Lawrence.
Judge Salim Tabit ordered him held without bail. The case is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on February 25, 2020.
On June 6, 2018 at approximately 6:20 pm, Lawrence Police responded to Hampshire and Alder Streets for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, the located the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The defendant was indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury on August 16, 2019 for murder. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on January 23, 2019 for heroin and fentanyl trafficking. (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/lowell-man-pleads-guilty-heroin-and-fentanyl-trafficking)
The defendant is represented by Attorney Edward Hayden. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Carrie Kimball
Director of Communications
Essex District Attorney’s Office