Man Held Without Bail in Revere Homicide
BOSTON, July 30, 2020— The man who shot and killed 20-year-old Yaseen Butt during a confrontation over a stolen backpack in Revere was arraigned today following an investigation by State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney office, with the assistance of the Revere Police Department.
FELIX MARTINEZ, 19, was arraigned by telephone today in Chelsea District Court on charges of murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of armed robbery. At the request of Assistant District Attorney David McGowan, Judge Matthew Machera ordered Martinez held without bail while the case is pending.
ADA McGowan told the court that, on July 26, 2020, Martinez allegedly participated in a robbery in which he stole two backpacks – one of which was valued at approximately $800 – from Mr. Butt and a second individual in the area of Garfield Avenue. During the robbery, the individual who was with Martinez displayed what appeared to be a firearm.
Following the robbery, the victims gathered a group of companions and set out to find Martinez in an attempt to retrieve the backpacks. They located Martinez among a group of individuals in the area of Revere Beach Boulevard; he was in possession of one of the backpacks. During a confrontation between the two groups, Martinez allegedly attempted to obtain a firearm from another individual. In response, the victim retreated from the location and was chased by Martinez and a group of males to a grassy area near 82 Revere Beach Blvd. The victim fell to the ground, where the group began to kick and beat him. During the assault, Martinez shot the victim, prosecutors said.
Mr. Butt was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Martinez and other members of the group were captured by security cameras fleeing into a nearby MBTA station. Martinez jumped onto the live tracks and was narrowly missed by a train as he made his escape, prosecutors said.
During the course of the investigation, detectives gathered additional evidence from security camera footage, social media, witness statements, and ballistic evidence. The State Police continue to investigate this matter with the assistance of the Revere Police Department.
Recently appointed Revere Police Chief David Callahan commented, “First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family. As a community, we’re all shocked by this terrible and heinous crime. I want to thank the investigators who worked tirelessly on this case over the last several days, leading to today’s arrest. Revere Police are continuing to work with State Police detectives and the Suffolk DA’s Office to make sure that those who had a role in this crime are arrested, and to prevent further violence in the City of Revere."
“Yaseen’s life was stolen over a backpack. This violence and complete disregard for human life is unacceptable. The State Police detectives assigned to my Office will continue to work alongside the Revere Police Department to make sure those responsible for Yaseen's murder are held accountable,” District Attorney Rollins said. “We intend to support Yaseen’s loved ones and connect them with resources. We will also work directly with the Revere community in the wake of this senseless act of violence.”
Edith Ayuso is the assigned Victim Witness Assistant. Martinez is represented by Jeff Miller. The case returns to court on September 2.
Charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless 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.