In the early morning hours of July 30, 2017, a house party on Bailey Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts, turned into a scene of violence that would claim the life of 25-year-old Jenssy Hernandez, a Black / African American male. Hernandez and his 26-year-old brother, Javier, were both shot in a tragic double shooting that unfolded outside the residence.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, transporting Jenssy to Lawrence General Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. His brother, Javier, was taken to a Boston hospital and fortunately survived the attack.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify Jeffery Tapia, a 23-year-old from Roxbury, as the suspect. Tapia was subsequently indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury on charges of murder, assault with intent to murder, and illegal possession of a firearm. His arrest took place at the Roxbury District Courthouse, where he was reporting for probation on an unrelated matter. Tapia was taken into custody without incident, a significant development in the case that brought a measure of relief to the grieving Hernandez family and the Lawrence community.
Following his arrest, Jeffery Tapia was arraigned in Salem Superior Court and ordered to be held without bail. In June 2022, a jury found Tapia guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Jenssy Hernandez. As a result of the conviction, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The trial concluded a painful chapter for the Hernandez family, ensuring that the man responsible for Jenssy's death would be held accountable for his actions. The violent altercation also left Javier Hernandez with life-altering injuries, as he lost the function of his right arm.
