Arraignment in Fatal Stabbing
BOSTON, December 24, 2020— A man has been ordered held without bail while awaiting trial in the July 3, 2020, murder of 36-year-old Onell Colon.
A Suffolk County grand jury on November 24, 2020, returned an indictment charging ANTHONY NICHOLES, 50, with second-degree murder in Colon’s stabbing death. During his arraignment Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court, Judge Jeffrey Locke ordered Nicholes held without bail while the case is pending. Nicholes has remained held since his August 17, 2020, arraignment in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court. This week’s proceeding moved the case to the Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated.
Assistant District Attorney Amy Martin of District Attorney Rollins’ Homicide Unit told the court that Mr. Colon and Mr. Nicholes were captured together on private security and public cameras in and around a pizza shop on Adams Street in Dorchester on July 3, 2020. The two became involved in a verbal altercation after leaving the pizza shop just before 11:00 p.m. As the two walked toward Acadia Street, Mr. Nicholes is seen on video dropping his backpack to the ground and lunging toward the victim with his arms outstretched. Mr. Colon is seen falling away from his attacker and running back to the pizza shop, where he told witnesses he had been stabbed.
A witness called 911 and the victim was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he died of a single stab wound to the chest.
Mr. Nicholes was identified through video surveillance footage, in part through his visible tattoos. After he was located and placed under arrest in California, Mr. Nicholes waived his Miranda rights and allegedly made statements to Boston Police homicide detectives identifying himself in images captured by the security cameras.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank the witnesses who called 911 and the EMTs who rendered aid to Mr. Colon,” District Attorney Rachael Rollins said. “Mr. Colon’s life was worth more than this. His family and community deserve better. I have made clear time and again that I have directed the limited resources of my office to seek answers and accountability in homicides and serious acts of violence, and to helping the loved ones of crime victims that are left behind start moving forward on their path toward healing. To anyone who would take a life, know that you will be held accountable for your actions.”
Anite Cetoute is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate. Mr. Nicholes is represented by Michael Bourbeau. The case returns to court on February 16, 2021.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 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.