South Boston man charged in Andrew Station attack

BOSTON, June 7, 2024 –A South Boston man has been ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing after being arraigned in connection to a June 4 knife attack at Andrew MBTA Station, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.  

THOMAS DIGAETANO, 42, was charged in South Boston BMC Wednesday with assault to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Judge Roberto Ronquillo ordered Digaetano held pending a June 11 dangerousness hearing.  Under Massachusetts law, a defendant found dangerous by a judge can be held without bail for up to 120 days. 

At about 4:14 p.m. on Tuesday, an MBTA police officer saw two men fighting near the Ellery Street entrance to the busway at Andrew Station. When the officer approached, one of the men, wearing gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt, fled toward Southampton Street. The officer chased the man, later identified as Digaetano, and apprehended him not far from the station.

The victim, 41, suffered several lacerations to his head and abdomen. He was transported to Boston Medical Center and admitted for treatment.

Surveillance footage shows Digaetano assaulting the victim with an object consistent with a knife, carrying out several striking motions into the victim’s upper body. A second suspect, shown wearing a black T-shirt and tan shorts and a black backpack, is shown kicking and punching the victim while he is on the ground.  The second suspect is being sought.

Digaetano has a 22-page criminal record including five open cases in South Boston. Some of his recent charges include possession with intent to distribute, assault and battery, theft, strangulation, and kidnapping.

“This act of violence in the middle of the day in a busy transit station is intolerable and an affront to the many public transportation users who expect and deserve safe, efficient transit.  I thank the MBTA police for their quick work in apprehending this suspect and I believe a dangerousness hearing is entirely appropriate given the nature of the attack,” 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