A person who fled to the Dominican Republic earlier than he may very well be arrested and charged with homicide has been extradited again to the Bay State, and arraigned for the alleged home celebration killing he’s suspected in.
Dominican man Jose Sanchez, 27, was held with out bail on Monday after pleading not responsible to the homicide of Lawrence man Luis Mendez.
The Lawrence man was 38 years outdated when he was shot to dying at a home celebration within the basement of 210 Market St., on April 25, 2022.
Sanchez was charged with homicide following Mendez’s 2022 dying, however he fled previous to his arrest. Then in October of 2024, Sanchez was apprehended within the Dominican Republic, the place he remained till his extradition to the U.S. final Friday.
Sanchez was arraigned in Lawrence District Courtroom on Monday.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the United States Department of Justice for their collaboration and commitment to public safety, which were instrumental in the successful extradition of the defendant,” Essex DA Paul Tucker stated in a press release.
“Further, I would like to thank all of our law enforcement partners whose diligent work on this matter made today’s arraignment possible,” Tucker added.
Det. Kevin Nigohosian, Sgt. Christopher Cote, and the Lawrence Police Division and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Workplace of the Essex District Lawyer investigated the case.
The Division of Justice coordinated Sanchez’s return to the U.S. to face the homicide cost, together with the Marshals Service, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Part, Essex County Sherriff Kevin Coppinger, and the Lawrence Police Division.
