BOSTON, June 7, 2016—A Chelsea man was arraigned on firearm related charges yesterday after a concerned citizen helped Chelsea Police identify him as the gunman who fired into a crowd, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JESUS PEREZ (D.O.B. 12/14/96) was arraigned yesterday in Chelsea District Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm, and attempted assault and battery with a firearm.  Assistant District Attorney Rob Arcangeli requested bail of $50,000.  Judge Matthew Nestor set bail in the amount of $5,000.

Chelsea Police responded to the area of Washington Avenue at approximately 5:15 p.m. Saturday for a report of shots fired.  A witness reported observing a group of individuals on the sidewalk exchange words with people inside a vehicle, which then parked nearby and three males exited.  One of those men drew a handgun and fired at the group on the sidewalk before fleeing onto Bloomingdale Street.

A description of the assailant was broadcast to responding officers.  An officer observed a man matching that description, later identified as Perez, as he walked on Bloomingdale Street.  Perez initially turned quickly away from the officer, appearing as though he intended run in the opposite direction of the officer, but then turned back and again began walking in the officer’s direction, prosecutors said.  Perez was stopped by the officer and positively identified as the gunman by a witness, prosecutors said.

Public safety cameras captured Perez’s alleged path of flight following the shooting and showed him enter an area off Eden Street and return approximately 20 seconds later.  A search of the area revealed a loaded Makarov 9mm that had been hidden under two stones.

Perez is represented by Barry Bisson.  He returns to court June 27.

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