Woburn Shooting Suspect Initially Told Police False Story: Rufo

WOBURN, MA — The suspect in the Woburn accidental shooting initially told police a "false story" about the incident, Chief Robert Rufo said on a recent episode of the public media show Today In Woburn.

Police arrested Alec Augustino Braz, 22 of Woburn, June 12 and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon and other charges after Jemil Evans, 19 of Woburn, was shot in the neck.

Police and Evans' family have both said it was an accidental shooting.

Evans is still unable to breathe on his own, his cousin told Patch.

Rufo appeared Monday on the Woburn Public Media Center show hosted by Samantha Stone.

"At the very onset of the investigation, in their attempt to disguise what had actually happened, they had a false story which very quickly proved to be false," Rufo said. "It was determined pretty promptly at the onset that the story was most likely fictitious."

Police investigated and confirmed that the story was false, Rufo said.

The suspect was not charged in relation to the false story. Questioned by Stone, Rufo said he would have been charged with filing a false police report "if he perpetuated that story."

Rufo also noted that his intent is "never to reissue the [firearms] license" to the suspect; he revoked the license immediately after the shooting.

Rufo also pleaded with residents to be very careful handling guns to prevent accidents.

Members of Evans' family also appeared on the episode of Today In Woburn to discuss the accident.

The full episode is available here from Woburn Public Media Center.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.