Suspect Charged With Murder Thursday In Deadly Courthouse Shooting

MEDFORD, MA - Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Medford Chief of Police Jack Buckley confirmed that Chenghai Xue, 44, has been charged with murder in connection with fatally shooting his nephew, a 23-year-old Revere man, outside the Cambridge District Courthouse in Medford.

Xue will be arraigned Friday in Somerville District Court. The victim's name was not released as of late Thursday night.

In a statement from the district attorney's office, the preliminary investigation "suggests that Mr. Xue and the victim had been at the courthouse for a hearing, where Mr. Xue was seeking an extension of a restraining order against his nephew."

After the hearing, both men left the courthouse on Mystic Valley Parkway and headed to the parking lot where they were both parked.

"The suspect then allegedly got into his vehicle and drove at the victim hitting him as well as other vehicles in the parking lot," Ryan said. "After striking the victim, the suspect allegedly exited the vehicle in possession of a handgun and shot the victim multiple times."

Ryan added that Xue did have a license to carry a gun, and that video footage of the incident is being reviewed be authorities.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness called 911 at approximately 4:50 p.m. Massachusetts State Police and Medford Police immediately responded, the DA's office said, and the defendant was placed into custody.

A Middlesex Sheriff’s office correction officer and court officers from the Massachusetts Trial Court were also on scene, according to Ryan.

In a WCVB news report, William Barabino, the attorney who represented the person accused of shooting his nephew on an unrelated charge, said that his client had taken out a restraining order against his nephew several years earlier, and Thursday's court proceeding was to renew the order.
Barabino said that restraining order was not renewed in a court hearing earlier that afternoon.

According to the attorney, the defendant hit his nephew with his car. He also said both men were originally from China.

This is an active and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and Medford Police.

Check back for updates as more information becomes available.