A third suspect has been implicated in the Mattapan shooting that claimed the life of 33-year-old Mauricio Lawrence in February. Jair Meeks, 24, of Mattapan, was arraigned today and charged with being an accessory before the fact, with Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden's office making the announcement. According to the press release, Meeks now joins Shavon Darby and Roberto Orlando Taylor, both of whom were charged earlier this month with first-degree murder in connection to the same incident.
Clerk Magistrate Courtney Doherty ordered Meeks to be held without bail, and all three are scheduled to appear back in Suffolk Superior on June 17 for pre-trial hearings. Law enforcement had been called to the scene on the night of February 4 following reports of a shooting on Tennis Road. There, they discovered Lawrence with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being quickly transported to Boston Medical Center by Boston EMS, Lawrence tragically succumbed to his injuries. Meeks is alleged to have played a critical role in the events that unfurled later that night. Before the incident, video evidence shows Meeks entering Lawrence's workplace to clandestinely record him while Darby and Taylor allegedly waited to carry out the attack.
The investigation unearthed dash cam audio from the suspect's vehicle where Meeks can be heard instructing Darby and Taylor on how to proceed, from concealing the firearm to altering the vehicle's appearance. "Wrap [the gun] up in a bag" and "try to catch the shells," he advised, along with suggestions to change the car's tire rims and use special tape to obscure the license plate. After tracking Lawrence from his place of work, Taylor allegedly opened fire near Lawrence's home, with ShotSpotter Activation capturing the echo of 18 shots within a mere seven seconds.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Taylor and Darby are said to have quickly fled the area in the same Honda Accord, with Darby behind the wheel. As per the district attorney's office, a text message from Darby to Meeks the following morning read “it’s complete.” DA Kevin Hayden described the case as embodying "a chilling sequence of calculated actions" and expressed his office's dedication to ensuring that everyone involved is held accountable. According to the information obtained from the Suffolk District Attorney’s press release, “This case presents an excellent example of investigators pursuing a criminal incident until every person who played a role is identified and brought forward to answer for their conduct.”
While all individuals charged in this case are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, which serves a handful of communities and manages over 20,000 cases annually, reaffirms its commitment to the pursuit of justice. Led by Hayden, the office employs over 300 people, with more than 160 attorneys working throughout various Massachusetts courts, focusing on both prosecution and the provision of services for those affected by crime. This case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the realities of violence within our city and the tireless efforts of law enforcement to bring closure to the families affected.
