An East Boston man, Edwin Geovanny Videz-Trinidad, was charged with multiple offenses following an attempted robbery at the EZ Mart convenience store on Washington Avenue, as per the Chelsea Police Department. WCVB reports that the 27-year-old now faces assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, and malicious destruction of property over $1,200.
The altercation, which occurred just after 9 a.m. Monday, involved Videz-Trinidad, armed with knives, trying to to get behind the counter to the cash register violently. Surveillance footage appears to show a struggle between the suspect and the store clerk, who defended himself with a screwdriver. "He did a good job fighting him off, even though he didn't have a weapon, and he wasn't giving up. He didn't back down, and I respect him, you know?" Brian Flint, a customer, told CBS Boston.
Investigators identified Videz-Trinidad using city surveillance cameras, which captured him discarding his mask in a nearby trash can and removing his sweatshirt after the incident. Police later found a knife matching the clerk's description of the weapon alongside clothing consistent with the robbery. Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton commended his officers, saying, "This was a dangerous & violent incident that could have had far worse consequences," in a statement obtained by WCVB.
Videz-Trinidad was found and arrested without incident in an apartment on Forsyth Street. Following the incident, there was an outpouring of community support for the clerk, with many, like Flint, expressing admiration for his bravery. "Thanks to the quick response and thorough investigative work of our officers, the suspect was swiftly identified and apprehended," Chief Houghton highlighted in the statement. Videz-Trinidad has since been arraigned at the Chelsea District Court. No further details have been released following the arraignment.
