Speeding Vehicle Leads to Discovery of Two Firearms
BOSTON, August 29, 2022—A Roxbury man already facing firearm charges and a second man were arraigned last week on new gun charges, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.
NIKOLAS LARONDE, 24, of Roxbury and JABBAR WHITE, 21, of Roslindale were arraigned Thursday in the Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court. LaRonde is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm. He was additionally cited for speeding for driving approximately 38 mph on Blue Hill Avenue, where the speed limit is 25 for the safety of pedestrians and motorists. White is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a high capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm. After finding LaRonde and White met the definition of dangerousness under MGL 276 Section 58a, Judge David Weingarten set bail for each at $5,000 and imposed conditions of release requiring that each be subject to GPS monitoring and home confinement upon their release on bail. They are also ordered to stay away from one another and from a third individual who was present at the time of their arrest.
At approximately 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a Massachusetts State Trooper on patrol in a marked cruiser in Grove Hall observed a 2017 Rav4 traveling at a high rate of speed, which he clocked at 38 mph in the 25 mph zone. After activating the cruisers lights and siren, he observed the vehicle’s driver, later identified as LaRonde, lean as if reaching down to the floorboard. He also observed the front seat passenger, later identified as White, make a quick movement from the right front passenger seat toward the middle of the vehicle. These movements inside the vehicle caused the entire vehicle to visibly shift from right to left.
During the traffic stop, the Trooper recognized a rear seat passenger from a prior interaction and was aware that the individual has an open firearm case. LaRonde informed the Trooper that he did not have his driver’s license on him.
A check of the driver’s information revealed that he currently has an open case out of the Roxbury Division of BMC charging firearm offenses.
All of the occupants were ordered out of the vehicle. Boston Police, who had arrived during the traffic stop, located a firearm in plain view under the driver’s seat. The muzzle was facing the rear of the vehicle, placing the gun’s handle in a manner that it would be accessible by the occupant of the driver’s seat. The Bersa 9mm firearm was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one in the chamber.
A backpack containing a Glock 9mm handgun was located under the front passenger’s seat, where White had been seated before shifting his position when the vehicle was stopped. The firearm was found to have a high-capacity magazine loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition plus one in the chamber.
“It’s disturbing to ponder what could have happened had these firearms not been seized. Nothing good can come from a gun loaded with more than two dozen rounds of ammunition, or from an individual already facing firearm offenses being armed with yet another gun. My office and our partners are working to trace illegal firearms to their sources and to target people who pose direct threats to our neighborhoods,” Hayden said.
LaRonde and White return to court September 21.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal legal system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.