A Fitchburg man faces murder charges while two others are accused of assault in a deadly stabbing in Leominster. Juan Diaz Contreras, 19, was taken into custody Thursday night after detectives issued a warrant for his arrest, as announced by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.'s office.
Edgar K. Perez-Tuero, 21, from Gardner, and Christian Joel Santiago, 19, of Leominster, were also nabbed in connection with the slaying. Charged with assault and battery, they joined Contreras in facing the judge for their arraignments in Fitchburg District Court on Friday, as reported by Boston.com.
The incident that sparked the arrests occurred just before 1 a.m. Tuesday outside the Riverside Village Apartment complex on State Street. Here, Robert Wright Day, a 20-year-old from Leominster, was found with a fatal stab wound. Day was quickly transported to Leominster Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, detailed in a piece from NBC Boston.
Amidst the family's grief, a GoFundMe page was set up to help with funeral expenses. The campaign, which described Day as "a vibrant 20-year-old young man just beginning his life," raised over $14,000. The late young man was honored as a Leominster High School grad and an erstwhile star on the Athol High School football field.
At the courthouse, Wright-Day's family wore matching blue T-shirts adorned with the victim's image. "Whenever I saw him, he was always a sweet kid, he always gave me a hug. He loved being around his family. The family still devastated, we're still processing," Day's cousin, Tonja Gunn, recounted in a statement obtained by WCVB. Gunn added, "But that being said, we just want justice for Robert."
While this case continues to unfold, the Leominster, Fitchburg police, and Massachusetts State Police units are pressing forward with their investigation.
