A Roxbury youth was held without bail today following his arraignment on charges that he shot 54-year-old Victor Brookens to death during a drug-related armed robbery, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

LUIS PIMENTEL, 18, was arrested this morning by Boston Police amid the ongoing investigation into Brookens’ Dec. 6 shooting death inside his Samoset Street apartment. He was arraigned this afternoon in Dorchester District Court.

Assistant District Attorney Ursula Knight said Pimentel had planned to rob Brookens, believing that he would find marijuana and cash at his residence. Armed with a handgun, Pimental allegedly shot Brookens during the course of that robbery.

Knight told the court that Pimental made statements indicating that he had brought the gun for protection and acted in self-defense when Brookens pulled a knife.

Pimental was identified in part through forensics at and near the scene, prosecutors said.

Judge Rosalind Miller ordered Pimentel to return to court on Feb. 13. The defendant was represented today by attorney James Sultan.