Hayden, citing six firearm arraignments last week, urges national purchasing regulations
BOSTON, March 19, 2023 – Citing six new firearm arraignments in just the last week, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden today reiterated his call for more stringent national gun purchasing standards in order to address the flow of illegal guns from states with lax purchase rules into states with tighter buying regulations, such as Massachusetts.
“The standard arguments against stricter national purchasing regulations reflect the extreme ideology of unrestrained buying ability and disregard the reality of that ability in one state having dramatic consequences in another state. Our patchwork approach to gun purchasing regulations—which differs so broadly from the unified approach of other industrialized nations—needs serious revision, because it is damaging neighborhoods and destroying lives,” Hayden said.
Six individuals, including a murder suspect and a teenager, were arraigned this week in Suffolk County alone on separate gun possession charges, some involving firearms with magazines capable of holding 15 or more bullets.
STEPHEN FREEMAN, 33, was charged on Friday with murder and multiple firearm offenses in the February 18 shooting death of Terrell Banks, 27, in front of a bar in Roxbury. Judge David Poole ordered Freeman held without bail. Freeman will return to court April 20 for a probable cause hearing.
JARED ROACH, 18, was arraigned in the Roxbury Division of BMC on March 13 for carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without an FID card. Judge Samir Zaganjori set $2,500 bail and ordered Roach to return to court on May 18 for a pre-trial hearing.
TORDAN DEFOE, 33, was arraigned in East Boston BMC on March 15 for possession of a large capacity firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, assault, and assault with a dangerous weapon. Judge John McDonald ordered $15,000 bail with home confinement.
RASHEED AVINGER, 29, was arraigned in Dorchester BMC on March 13 for carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition withtou an FID card. Judge Jonathan Tynes revoked Avinger’s bail on a separate open matter from New Bedford and ordered $10,000 bail. Avinger is due back in court April 6 for a pre-trial hearing.
DEVONJE WILLIAMS, 23, was arraigned in Dorchester BMC on March 15 on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a firearm without a license (second offense), carrying a loaded firearm without a license (second offense), firearm violation with one prior violent crime or drug offense (armed career criminal). Judge Margaret Albertson ordered Williams held without bail pending dangerousness hearing on April 12.
KENNETH MADDEN, 26, of Reading was arraigned on March 16 in Chelsea District Court on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, and possession of ammunition with an FID card. Judge Kareem Morgan ordered Madden held without bail pending a March 22 dangerousness hearing and revoked Madden’s bail on a separate open firearm case out of Cambridge.
Hayden’s office last year released data showing that most illegal guns seized in Suffolk County in 2021 came from Maine, New Hampshire, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Guns were also traced to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio. Of the 441 traceable guns seized in Boston that year, 271, or 61 percent, originated in those nine states; 67, or 15 percent, originated in other states, and 103, or 23 percent, originated in Massachusetts.
Hayden praised President Joseph Biden’s executive order this week that could increase the number of people “engaged in the business” of selling firearms to register as gun sellers, which would require them to conduct background checks before completing gun sales. But significant change requires Congressional action, Hayden said.
Hayden also cited the 100-plus mass shootings so far in 2023 in his call for national action on uniform gun purchasing regulations.
“I pray that members of both parties recognize the urgency and the benefits of a coherent, rational approach that preserves purchasing rights but addresses the patchwork policies that affect firearm inflow states like Massachusetts. I realize the 2nd Amendment has divergent interpretations, but there’s no arguing about the fact that it includes the words ‘well-regulated,’” Hayden said.
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 justice 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.
James Borghesani,, Chief of Communications