9 indicted in March homicide of 26-year-old man
Nine people were indicted Tuesday in connection with the March homicide of 26-year-old Chaz Burton, the Suffolk District Attorney’s office said in a statement.A grand jury charged Benjamin Tate, 23, who lists addresses in Jamaica Plain and Roxbury; Abdullah Yasin, 23, of Jamaica Plain; and Fabian Llano 26, of Lynn, with Burton’s murder, according to the DA’s office. Deborah Tate, 41, of Chelsea; Dwayne Joseph, 28, of Roxbury; Stephon Tate, 53, of Dorchester; Lashon Tate, 24, of Lynn; George Tate, 22; and Michael Tate, 28, were charged with offenses in connection with the fatal attack and misleading police, authorities said.The DA’s office said Benjamin Tate, Yasin, Deborah Tate, and Joseph were arrested following the indictments and faced arraignment on Wednesday.Benjamin Tate was charged with murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault and battery; Yasin with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; Deborah Tate with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, and misleading police; and Joseph with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and misleading police. Benjamin Tate and Yasin were ordered held without bail, while Deborah Tate was held on $2,500 cash bail, and Joseph was released on his own recognizance, according to the statement.During the early morning hours of March 27, Burton attended a party at 227 River St., the DA’s office said. Before leaving the party with a group of acquaintances, he became involved in a verbal exchange with Benjamin and Stephon Tate, according to authorities.Once outside, the group came across Benjamin and Stephon Tate again and a fight ensued, authorities said. Other members of the Tates’ group became involved in the altercation, with some allegedly pulling wooden stakes from the ground and using them as weapons.During the fight, Benjamin Tate punched an acquaintance of Burton in the eye, resulting in an injury that required surgery, according to the DA’s office.Burton ran into the building where the party was being held and was cornered by the group in a hallway, authorities said. The fight continued and Burton was shot twice in the torso. He died as a result of his injuries.As authorities investigated the incident, trying to determine the identities of those involved and their roles, several defendants allegedly lied to police about their presence in the hallway during the attack.Their statements were contradicted by witness testimony, video caught by a security camera inside the building of parts of the incident, and other evidence, authorities said.Stephon Tate and Lashon Tate have also already been arrested by police, according to the DA’s office. Stephon Tate was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and misleading police, and Lashon Tate with assault and battery and misleading police.Police are still working to apprehend Fabian Llano, George Tate, and Michael Tate. Llano is facing charges of murder, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and misleading police; George Tate of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and misleading police; and Michael Tate of misleading police.All of the Tates are cousins except for Stephon Tate, who is their uncle. The DA’s office said the other defendants are family friends.
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