Seven teens facing assault charges in Forest Hills station attack
BOSTON, February 6, 2025 – Six juveniles and an 18-year-old are facing assault charges for attacking a thirteen-year-old boy in the Forest Hills MBTA Station last month, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
LUCAS GONCALVES-DEPINA, 18, was charged in West Roxbury BMC on January 15 with assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot). Goncalves-Depina was released on personal recognizance and will return to court on February 21 for a pre-trial hearing.
Five juveniles aged 14 to 16 were also charged with assault and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shot foot) on January 15. The juveniles were arraigned in Dorchester Juvenile Court and will return to court on March 14.
A sixth juvenile, 12, has been charged and will be arraigned at a later date.
On January 14, MBTA Transit police were dispatched to a local hospital and met with the victim, a 13-year-old boy, who reported being assaulted by a group of juveniles. The victim reported being on a bus from Andrew Square MBTA station to Forest Hills station just before 7 a.m. when a female juvenile sat next to him and told him she wanted to “fight” because he was “spreading rumors” about her.
When the bus arrived at Forest Hills the victim exited the bus and the female juvenile followed him and struck him in the face multiple times with a closed fist. The victim was able to get away when an unknown male juvenile placed his arm around his shoulder and walked him toward the bike path.
The victim reported that a group of juveniles walked in the same direction and surrounded him. The victim reported the group began to strike him with closed fists. The victim fell to the ground and the group began kicking and punching him in the head and body.
Two adult witnesses intervened to break up the assault, one using his bike to separate the group. The witnesses told police that most of the group fled but that one juvenile would not stop kicking the victim.
The victim sustained multiple lacerations on his forehead and bruising throughout his body.
Surveillance video corroborated the victim and witnesses statements. Video showed 8 to 10 juveniles striking the victim.
Later that day, investigators used still images obtained from surveillance video to identify and detain Goncalves-Depina and the juveniles when they returned to the Forest Hills station.
"I thank the Transit police for their quick work in identifying the juveniles involved in this frightening assault and I’m grateful for the witnesses who assisted this young victim. It’s easy for any caring person to imagine the fear this boy must have felt during such a vicious 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