Fourth Suspect Arraigned in Connection with Ketter’s Death

By John Lynds

A fourth suspect has been arraigned in the December 10 shooting death of an East Boston man on the corner of Orleans and Marginal Streets.

Duncan Ketter’s lifeless body and that of a female friend were thrown from a car after an alleged marijuana deal gone bad. Immediately following the murder, three individuals ranging in ages from 16-to 20-years-old were arrested and charged.

Last week a fourth suspect was arraigned in connection with Ketter’s murder.

Elijah Charles, 18, of Brockton, was arraigned in East Boston Municipal Court on charges of armed robbery and armed assault with intent to rob, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

The judge set Charles’s bail at $200,000 and he is scheduled to appear in court on January 19.

The Monday following Ketter’s murder police arrested their first suspect, Thorus O’Brien, 18, of Brockton. O’Brien was held without bail during his arraignment and charged with murder, armed robbery, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm.

Police then arrested a 16-year-old juvenile and charged him in Suffolk County Juvenile Court. The juvenile was charged with delinquency, to wit, armed robbery and armed assault with intent to rob. His bail was set at $100,000.

Police later arrested Demetrius Cast, 20, of Everett and faced similar charges to the juvenile but was charged as an adult. He was held on $350,000 cash bail and his open bail in unrelated Middlesex County cases has been revoked.

Charles’s arrest and subsequent arraignment brings the total number of suspects connected to Ketter’s slaying to four.

According to Assistant District Attorney Catherine Ham of D.A. Daniel Conley’s Homicide Unit, the juvenile allegedly contacted a woman known to him and arranged to purchase a quantity of marijuana on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 10. Ketter happened to be with this woman at the time of the planned transaction.

The 16-year-old juvenile allegedly brought Ketter and the female into a small sport-utility vehicle to exchange the marijuana for cash. Cast was in the back seat but unbeknownst to Ketter or the woman, O’Brien was also inside the vehicle and hiding in a rear cargo hold.

As the group made the transaction, O’Brien allegedly revealed himself as the vehicle was in motion and produced a firearm and demanded marijuana from the woman and Ketter. When he was met with verbal resistance, O’Brien allegedly fired, fatally injuring Ketter and striking Cast in the arm. The group allegedly threw Ketter and the woman from the vehicle onto the street, traveled to Revere, and let the juvenile and Cast out of the vehicle.

The juvenile later sought medical help for a gunshot wound at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Police responded and questioned the juvenile and he was later arrested and arraigned from his hospital bed.

Ketter’s father has started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to send his son back to the family’s native Kenya were he will be laid to rest. The family hopes to raise $15,000 but have only raised $1,500 to date and are looking for help.

“I recently lost my beloved son, a hero, and an inspiration to many, my wonderful son Duncan Ketter,” said Richard Ketter. “His life was suddenly ended tragically in a robbery shooting. In this great time of loss, I’m seeking your assistance in meeting the funds needed to send my son’s body back to our hometown in Kenya for burial. The blow was great, the shock severe, and we little thought the end was near. And only those who have lost can tell the pain of parting without farewell. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone. A part of us went with you, the day God called you home. Nothing can ever take away, the love a heart holds dear. Fond memories linger every day, remembrance keeps him near.”

Those looking to contribute to this fund can visit https://www.gofundme.com/duncan-ketters-funeral-fund.

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