Man Arrested, Charged With Murder Of Boston Woman In Lowell

LOWELL, MA – The man police believe shot and killed Deija Mendez in a car was arrested and charged with murder a little more than a month after the shooting, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Kelly Richardson have confirmed.

Authorities said they found Xavier DeJesus, 20, of Lowell, Tuesday at a Fall River home. He is set to be arraigned Wednesday in Lowell District Court.

Around 3:30 p.m. on June 23 someone called Lowell police to report someone was shot on Coral Street in Lowell. When police got there, they found Mendez, of Boston, behind the steering wheel of a black Chevrolet Tahoe with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead shortly after.

DeJesus has been charged with murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card in connection with the fatal shooting.

Authorities said the investigation suggests that DeJesus may known Mendez and, according to authorities, there may have been a dispute over the car just before the fatal shooting.

After the initial investigation, authorities charged three people with intimidation of a witness, including Angel Garcia, 29 of Lowell. Devine McKinney, 21 of Lowell, was charged with intimidation of a witness and accessory after the fact to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and Selena Simonphone, 22, of Lowell, was charged with intimidation of a witness and accessory after the fact to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

McKinney and Simonphone have also been charged in connection with helping DeJesus evade police after the shooting.

Read more:

• 23-Year-Old Woman Fatally Shot In Car In Lowell
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