A man appeared in court Thursday to face new charges in the death of his 12-year-old brother in Mattapan over the summer.
Boston police arrested Walter Hendrick Wednesday on those new charges — including manslaughter and witness intimidation. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court.
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Hendrick is facing prior additional weapons charges for the shooting in Mattapan that led to the death of his 12-year-old brother, Savian Ellis.
During court Thursday, it was revealed that Hendrick is accused of initially denying any involvement — saying that he was not even near his brother during the shooting. He allegedly told police his brother was shot outside of the apartment at a store and that he never even heard a gunshot.
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Prosecutors claimed Thursday that an investigation revealed Hendrick's fingerprints were on the trigger of the gun believed to be involved in the shooting.
The Hendrick family has been sticking by his side throughout the case, and he had no previous criminal history. His mother and other family members were in court Thursday supporting him.
Hendrick's lawyer even got choked up as she relayed a message from her client in court.
"He is crushed by the death of his 12-year-old brother," attorney Susan Neff said. "He would do anything to make it not so and if if he could trade his own life for his brother's, he would. This was an accident that he has terrible, terrible remorse over."
The judge ordered Hendrick held on $250,000 cash bail, siding with the Commonwealth's request. And if he does make bail he will have to wear a GPS monitor.
Police first arrested Hendricks on July 13, the day of the shooting, on several gun-related infractions. A judge set $2,500 cash bail for Hendrick when he was arraigned in Dorchester District Court in July.
Police have said that officers were called to a second-floor apartment about 2:05 p.m. on July 13 and found Savian on the kitchen floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to Boston Medical Center and declared dead about 2:42 p.m. They said investigators found that Hendrick had a loaded firearm in the residence that was improperly stored.
A discharged semi-automatic shell casing was found at the scene along with a semi-automatic firearm and a black fanny pack which Hendrick told investigators he kept the gun in, according to a police report. Hendrick told investigators in an interview that the gun was his, and that he does not have a valid license for the firearm.
Prosecutors said in court Thursday that the bullet that hit Savian "went right through his heart," indicating that the front end of the gun was in direct contact with his body.
Hendrick faces at least 20 years in prison if he is found guilty of manslaughter. His next court date has been scheduled for Oct. 24.
