BREAKING: Two 18-year-old men have been cleared of accessory charges related to a late-night shooting in Brookline, Massachusetts, earlier this year. Court records confirm that both Thomas May of Brookline and Guilherme Leal De Britto Pereira of Needham were arrested following the incident on January 11, but they have now been exonerated.
The shooting unfolded just before 1:30 a.m. when Brookline police responded to multiple reports of gunfire near New Terrace Road. Authorities discovered several spent shell casings at the scene. The victim, an 18-year-old man from Newton, later arrived at Brigham and Women’s Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip. Police later found a vehicle with what appeared to be gunshot damage at the hospital.
Initially, May and Pereira, along with two minors, were arrested for allegedly aiding the shooter by fleeing the scene without reporting the crime. However, both men’s attorneys successfully argued there was a lack of probable cause to support the charges against them. Pereira was cleared back in February, while May’s charges were dismissed on August 21.
“One of the minors, a 17-year-old from Roslindale, faces serious charges including four counts of armed assault to murder,” said a police spokesperson. “The other minor, a 16-year-old from Brookline, is charged with being an accessory after the fact and several firearm-related offenses.”
Legal representatives for both May and Pereira emphasized their clients’ non-involvement in the shooting. “They did not anticipate or condone the actions that led to the shooting,” stated Robert George, May’s attorney. “When the case was finally dismissed, it was a welcome result, and [May] hopes to finish college and have a bright future.”
Pereira’s attorney, Joshua Wood, echoed this sentiment, saying, “The district attorney’s office agreed that there was no probable cause. He was just as much a victim as anybody else.”
As of now, the investigation continues against the minors involved. The Brookline shooting incident has raised significant public concern, and the community is watching closely as the legal proceedings develop.
Stay tuned for further updates on this breaking story as it unfolds.
