A quiet overnight in Easton turned chaotic early Wednesday when, police say, two men forced their way into a home while a mother and her three children were inside. Officers responding to an alarm found one man at the back of the house and, with help from a Massachusetts State Police K-9, tracked down a second suspect nearby. A loaded Glock handgun with a 30-round high-capacity magazine was recovered at the scene, and both men were arrested on a slate of charges, according to police.
How Police Say the Arrest Went Down
Easton officers were dispatched just after an alarm sounded at about 12:00 a.m., and the homeowner told police she believed someone was inside, according to WCVB. Two officers chased and detained one suspect at the rear of the home while a Massachusetts State Police K-9 team searched the area and located the second man close by.
Police say they recovered a loaded Glock fitted with a 30-round magazine and identified the arrested men as 25-year-old Ernst Lacrete of Quincy and 25-year-old Lavar Benson of Dorchester. Both are facing home-invasion and firearms charges and are expected to appear in Taunton District Court as the investigation continues.
What the Charges Mean
Under Massachusetts law, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing a large-capacity feeding device are treated as serious offenses. State model jury instructions describe a "large-capacity" feeding device as one that accepts, or can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The counts brought in this case are grounded in M.G.L. c. 269 § 10 and further clarified in the state's jury instructions.
What Happens Next
Both men remain in custody and are expected to be arraigned in Taunton District Court, per WCVB. Easton police say the investigation is still active and have not released details about a possible motive or whether the family was specifically targeted.
