BOSTON, Aug. 28, 2013—A Medford man was held without bail today at his arraignment on murder charges for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Edward Villalona, his one-time friend, on Easter Sunday, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

YERRI PEREZ (D.O.B. 9/19/91) was formally charged in Roxbury District Court with murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for Villalona’s March 31 homicide in Jamaica Plain.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Mulhern, chief of the DA’s Gang unit, told Roxbury District Court Judge Ernest Sarason that Perez and Villalona were known to one another and had even been friends, but that Perez shot him dead during a confrontation in the area of 104 Minden St. shortly before 8:30 that evening.

Mulhern said Perez circled the area in a Ford Flex sport-utility vehicle prior to the shooting. The weapon was recovered the next morning in the playground of an Evergreen Street day care center.

Boston Police apprehended Perez yesterday on a warrant approved by Suffolk prosecutors on Aug. 22. He was identified as a suspect based on surveillance images recovered by detectives, as well as cell phone records and other evidence.

The investigation into Villalona’s homicide is ongoing, authorities said, and anyone with information is urged to share it with Boston Police homicide detectives at 617-343-4470.

Perez was represented by attorney Jack Miller. He will return to court on Sept. 27.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.