Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis today announced the arrest of an 18-year-old male in connection with the murder of 15-year-old Soheil Turner who was shot as he stood in front of a Roxbury bodega waiting for a school bus.

A focused investigation by Boston Police homicide detectives, the Boston Police School Police Unit, and Suffolk County prosecutors identified XZENIYEJU CHUKWUEZ (D.O.B. 4/4/91), of Roxbury as the shooting suspect in Turner’s May 7 homicide. Based on evidence developed in the course of their investigation, homicide detectives today secured an arrest warrant for the suspect. Chukwuez will be arraigned at 9 a.m. tomorrow for murder and firearms charges in Roxbury District Court.

On May 7, at about 7:20 a.m., officers from District B-2 (Roxbury) responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of 305 Dudley St. in Roxbury. Upon arrival, officers located a teenager suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim, a middle school-aged male was transported to Boston Medical Center for treatment of his wounds. He died a few hours later.

“Soheil Turner’s death can be treated as the end of one young life, or it can serve as a renewed call for peace and non-violence in the neighborhoods of our city,” Conley said. “I would like to join with Commissioner Davis on commending the outstanding work of the detectives from District B-2 and the Boston Police School Police Unit, as well as prosecutors in my office who have been working around the clock on this case to bring this defendant to justice. There is no good explanation or excuse for Soheil Turner’s death, but we hope that today’s arrest – while only the beginning of a process to hold his killer accountable – brings at least some small measure of comfort to Soheil’s family and friends.”

Davis stated, “I would like to commend the dogged detective work and the dedicated efforts of Suffolk County prosecutors along with the commitment of detectives from District B-2 and the Boston Police School Police Unit and community participation that led to the successful identification and apprehension of the perpetrator responsible for Soheil’s death.” Davis added, “I hope today’s arrest brings some small sense of peace to Soheil’s family and loved ones as they continue to mourn the tragic death of a life lost far too young.”