BOSTON, July 28, 2015—The continued investigation into the July 2 shooting death of Raheem Ramirez has led to two murder charges against two men who had previously been charged with gun offenses, Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

LAMAR BRISON (D.O.B. 10/8/90) and ELIJAH SMALL (D.O.B. 10/29/95), both of Dorchester, are expected to face arraignment tomorrow on Roxbury Municipal Court complaints charging them with murder for the July 2 shooting that claimed Ramirez’ life at the age of 22. Both defendants are currently held on $100,000 cash bail following their July 3 arraignments for unlawfully carrying a firearm; Brison is additionally charged with misleading an investigator and motor vehicle offenses.

In addition to their high bails, Small’s bail on an open assault case was revoked, and Brison was held on a warrant charging him with violating his probation after a three-year prison sentence on a 2012 gun case.

Boston Police responding to a report of gunfire on Greenville Street just after 11:00 p.m. found Ramirez and another man, 24, suffering from gunshot injuries. Ramirez was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he died of his injuries; the second victim is expected to survive.

Witnesses in the area provided officers with a description of two men riding a scooter. A short time later, officers observed a pair matching that description and attempted to stop them. The scooter driver – later identified as Brison – allegedly led them on a chase in which he drove at a high rate of speed through red lights and the wrong way down one-way streets.

When the scooter came to a stop, Small allegedly fled on foot while clutching his waistband. In the course of a foot chase, the officers heard the sound of a metal object striking the pavement. They apprehended Small a short distance away and recovered a handgun in his path of flight. Brison was taken into custody without incident, though he allegedly made false statements about his whereabouts earlier that evening.

In the days and weeks that followed, police and prosecutors developed additional evidence – including the results of ballistics testing – to support murder charges against both defendants.

The investigation into Raheem’s fatal shooting remains very active today, with police and prosecutors urging anyone with information to share it with homicide detectives at 617-343-4700.

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