17 Year Old Arraigned Monday Northern Berkshire District Court

Angel Nieves, 17, the stepson of Benjamin "Chuck" Martinez Jr. has been arraigned in his murder last week in an Adams apartment that police say is a well-known drug trafficking site. Neighbors in the area of the homicide say they’re concerned with some of the troubling things that have been happening in the neighborhood.

Angel Nieves was arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Monday on first-degree murder charges. District Attorney Andrea Harrington said she will be seeking from a grand jury.

Angel R. Nieves was ordered held without bail Monday, after pleading not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder for allegedly killing Benjamin Martinez Jr. on Thursday.

Martinez, 34, of Springfield, According to police reports, was found shot in the head on Thursday night by a female acquaintance who called police about 9:08 p.m. The murder weapon is said to be a small semi-automatic handgun, probably a .38.

The autopsy report stated that Martinez was killed by a single shot to the back of the head was found dead of a gunshot wound to the back of the head on the third floor of 1 East Hoosac St.

Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.

“The victim was killed via a gunshot wound to the head, My office will be presenting this matter to a Grand Jury and seeking an indictment,”

The case will be sent up to Superior Court. While the defendant is still a juvenile, he will be tried as an adult under Massachusetts law.

The homicide is being investigated by Adams Police, the state police detective unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, North Adams Police and the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office.

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