PAIR ON GANG MISSION KILLED HONOR STUDENT, PROSECUTOR SAYS

Two alleged gang members opened fire on a group of teenagers during a mission to rival gang territory, killing an innocent 14-year-old honor student in broad daylight, a Suffolk County prosecutor said during their arraignment on murder charges.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury yesterday indicted TIMOTHY “TOOLMAN” HEARNS (D.O.B. 3/13/90) of Dorchester and RAMON “DOUBLE R” SILVELO-MILES (D.O.B. 11/30/89) of Lynn for the crime of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Jaewon Martin to death at a basketball court near the corner of Columbus and Heath streets on the afternoon of May 8.

At their arraignments today in Suffolk Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney Edward Krippendorf recommended that both men remain held without bail; Clerk Magistrate Gary D. Wilson imposed that recommendation.

Hearns and Silvelo-Miles are also charged with three counts of armed assault with intent to murder for allegedly firing on the two teenage boys and one teenage girl with whom Martin was speaking. The pair are additionally charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for hitting one of those victims and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for firing at but missing the other two victims.

Hearns is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition; Silvelo-Miles is charged as a joint venturer in the shootings but not with physical possession of the firearm.

Krippendorf, a member of Suffolk DA Daniel F. Conley’s Homicide Unit, told the court that Hearns and Silvelo-Miles are associated with the H-Block gang, which had a “long-standing and violent feud” with associates of the Heath Street gang.

The basketball court where Martin stood that afternoon was in an area considered part of Heath Street territory, Krippendorf said.

“Jaewon Martin, however, was an eighth-grade honor roll student at the Timilty Middle School and was not a member of the Heath Street Gang,” Krippendorf said.

Krippendorf said the Dorchester teen’s killers “were going to the Heath Street area for the purpose of shooting someone from the Heath Street gang.”

At about 3:40 p.m., a group that included Hearns and Silvelo-Miles traveled in two cars to the area and parked near the basketball court, Krippendorf said. Hearns allegedly walked up a set of stairs toward the group, drew a revolver, and fired on Martin at point-blank range. The boy was struck twice, suffering a mortal gunshot wound to the chest.

Hearns allegedly turned and fired on the three other victims, striking one and missing the others. The injured youth suffered non-fatal injuries; Martin was soon pronounced dead at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Hearns allegedly ran from the basketball court and entered Silvelo-Miles’ vehicle, which sped away from the scene.

In the aftermath of the homicide, Krippendorf said, Hearns “made statements in which he admitted to being the person responsible for the shooting,” which were corroborated by eyewitness accounts and a positive identification.

Similarly, thr prosecutor said, “Ramon Silvelo-Miles also made statements after the shooting admitting to his role in the shooting,” which were bolstered by “video surveillance of the area, eyewitness statements, and phone records.”

Kara Hayes, chief of the DA’s Victim Witness Assistance Program, is the assigned victim-witness advocate. Hearns is represented by attorney Daniel Beck and Silvelo-Miles is represented by attorney John Galvin. The case will return to court on Nov. 3 to schedule a trial date.