NH Man Questioned in Lynn Murder, Charged with North Andover Armed Robbery and Sex Assault

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — A 21-year-old New Hampshire man questioned by the State Police for the murder of a pizza delivery person in Lynn is facing armed robbery and sexual assault charges in North Andover after he was accused of brandishing a firearm and sexually assaulting a Richdale variety store clerk on Monday night.

While Brian Brito, of Manchester, NH, was in State Police custody being questioned about the Lynn murder, North Andover Police issued an area-wide BOLO (Be On The Lookout) based on the victim’s description of the suspect.

Massachusetts State Police contacted North Andover Police a short time later stating they had a person in custody on other charges that matched the suspect’s description. An arrest warrant was issued out of Lawrence District Court charging Brito with armed robbery while masked, aggravated rape and kidnapping in the North Andover case.

North Andover Police state that at 10:18 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to the Richdale variety store, at 75 Chickering Road for a report of an armed robbery and sexual assault. Upon arrival, responding officers learned that a lone suspect entered the store with his face concealed by a mask and brandishing a firearm.

The store clerk was ordered a gunpoint to lock the doors, and was taken to a back room where she was sexually assaulted. The gunman then emptied the cash drawer and took numerous lottery tickets before fleeing the scene in an unknown direction.

Brito was scheduled to be arraigned in Peabody District Court on Tuesday on State Police charges, followed by arraignment in Lawrence District Court on the North Andover warrant.

The joint investigation by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police is ongoing.