North Shore Mass Shooting That Left 2 Men Dead: Arraignments Begin

SALEM, MA — The first two of six suspects — including a 15-year-old from Lynn — in a 2023 drive-by North Shore shooting that left two men dead are set to be arraigned in Salem Superior Court on Friday.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office said that Leonardo Espinoza, 15, of Lynn and Darwin Batista, 20, of Lynn are scheduled for arraignment this week with four other men indicted in the case — Justin Alba, 25, of Peabody, and Lynn residents Yefferson Vallecillo Cambar, 22, Carlos

Ramirez Corniel, 16, and Abel Severino Reyes, 21 — to be arraigned at a later date.

The six men are facing double murder and related charges in the drive-by shooting at 189 Essex Street in Lynn on Sept. 2, 2023, that killed Jandriel Heredia, 21, of Revere and Abraham Diaz, 25, of Lynn.

The Hon. Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman is expected to preside over the cases.

The suspects were arrested in connection to the shooting following an investigation involving the Lynn Police Department, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, and the MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick will prosecute the cases on behalf of the Commonwealth. Batista will be represented by attorney Charles Henry Fasoldt, while Espinoza will be represented by attorney Victoria Kelleher.

It is not yet known who will represent the other defendants, according to the Essex DA's Office.