Robert Severiino charged with murder of Lawrence’s Juan Espinal in 2017 | Massachusetts

LAWRENCE – An Essex County grand jury on Wednesday indicted Robert Severino, 24, on charges of first-degree murder in the 2017 death of Juan Espinal, 18, of Lawrence.

The indictment means Severino’s case will be moved from Lawrence District Court to Salem Superior Court, where he could face harsher penalties if convicted.

Severino was arrested in Worcester this fall and arraigned Oct. 24 in Lawrence District Court. Judge Jason Chan ordered him held without bail.

On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, Espinal was pronounced dead at the intersection of Crescent and Forest Streets in Lawrence. Police said he was shot execution-style.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker noted in a statement released Wednesday that there is evidence that Espinal was shot multiple times by two people, including Severino.

At the time of his death, Espinal was a student and high school basketball player in Lawrence.

Espinal had lived on Crescent Street in Lawrence for two months before his murder, police said.

His murder was featured in a state police advertising campaign about unsolved murders. According to police, two men hid behind a parked car and then ambushed Espinal as he walked home.

“The victim was pursued up Forest Street toward Crescent Street in Lawrence, where he was shot. “The suspects were last seen fleeing on foot,” according to the State Police Cold Case Unit.

Police officers assigned to Tucker’s office, officers and detectives from Lawrence and Worcester, state troopers arresting unsolved crimes and violent fugitives, and Homeland Security agents investigated Espinal’s murder

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill and threads at jillharma.