BOSTON, Jan. 13, 2014—The man who allegedly gunned down 19-year-old Joseph Morante Jr. during an armed robbery will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court tomorrow following his indictment for first-degree murder and related offenses, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced today.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on Jan. 6 returned indictments charging ELOSKO BROWN (D.O.B. 2/23/86) of Brockton with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.  Brown was previously arraigned on these charges in Roxbury District Court.  The indictment moves the case from the district court to Suffolk Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated. 

According to prosecutors, Brown entered the iWorld Accessories electronics store on Tremont Street in Roxbury shortly before 1:30 p.m. on July 31.  The only other person inside the store was Morante, a shop employee who interacted briefly with Brown before walking behind the counter.

Moments later, Brown approached the counter and pulled out a gun, prosecutors said.  Upon seeing the gun, Morante put up his hands and offered no resistance, but Brown allegedly pulled the trigger and shot him in the torso.

Morante fled from the store and collapsed on the corner of Cunard Street.  As the victim ran, prosecutors say Brown stole a quantity of cell phones and other electronics before fleeing the store on foot.

Morante was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

In the days and weeks that followed, Boston Police and Suffolk prosecutors undertook extensive efforts to identify the assailant. After a review of video surveillance at and near the store, as well as statements from multiple witnesses, Brown was taken into custody on Nov. 16.

Assistant District Attorney Edmond Zabin, chief of the DA’s Homicide Unit, led the grand jury investigation that led to yesterday’s indictment.  Kara Hayes is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Brown is represented by attorney Elda James.

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