On a summer evening in 2019, a burst of violence on a Revere, Massachusetts street left a 35-year-old Dorchester man fatally wounded. John Brooks, a Black / African American male, was shot during an altercation in the vicinity of Centennial Street on July 18, 2019. He was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital for emergency surgery but tragically succumbed to his injuries five days later, on July 23, 2019.
The incident prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by law enforcement, leading to the swift apprehension of two suspects.
Within a short time, the investigation, which utilized witness statements and video evidence, pointed to two individuals. The first to be taken into custody was 19-year-old Kevin Nguyen of Dorchester, who was arrested by Revere Police near the scene of the shooting. His alleged accomplice, 21-year-old Jorge Cardova of Revere, was identified and apprehended on a warrant the following day. Both men were initially charged with armed assault with intent to rob, attempted murder, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Following Brooks's death, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office announced that new charges were anticipated.
As the legal process unfolded, the gravity of the charges against the two suspects escalated. Kevin Nguyen was arraigned in Chelsea District Court and held on $50,000 bail. In addition to the bail, he was ordered to have no contact with the victim's family or witnesses, wear a GPS monitor, and remain under home confinement if he were to be released. Jorge Cardova faced more severe initial charges; he was arraigned on charges of murder, armed assault to rob with a firearm, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and several firearm and drug-related offenses. At his arraignment in Chelsea District Court, he was ordered to be held without bail.
