Lynn man IDs Cabrera as shooter in 2008 Olive Street murder trial

SALEM – A Lynn man took the stand in the Jose Cabrera trial Tuesday, identifying him as a shooter in the gang-related incident on Olive Street in 2008 that ended with the death of Tony Pich.Raymond Charles Bulger, 24, of Lynn, testified in Salem Superior Court, giving jurors a detailed description of what he saw on Halloween night in 2008 when Pich, 22, was gunned down in front of his home at 1-3 Olive St.Bulger, who served a year in Iraq with the National Guard, stated he wanted “the truth be known,” as Assistant District Attorney Kristen R. Buxton is carefully putting the pieces together to show the jury how the shooting of Pich evolved that night.Bulger explained on direct examination by Buxton that he initially did not tell police who the shooter was because he was in “fear of retaliation.””What was your concern?” asked Buxton”That I would be killed. I knew how they operate,” Bulger quietly responded.Bulger, who stated that he had been living at 1-3 Olive St. at the time, went to a party that evening and was later contacted through instant message from an 11-year-old youth and Tony to rush home.When he got back to Olive Street, he testified that “Tony said ‘just wait’ and handed me a .25 caliber gun.””Did you see if he had a gun?” inquired Buxton.”Yes, a 9 mm,” he responded.Bulger recalled how they positioned themselves on the grass area in front of the house on Olive Street. Then the youth yelled out five times, “That’s Josey right over there. That’s Josey over there,” pointing to a car.Bulger said the vehicle, later described as silver, had four people inside. He only recognized the driver, known to him as Josey (nickname for Jose Cabrera.)The vehicle peeled out toward the 7-Eleven, driving past him as he shot over the roof so he would not hurt anybody, while Tony fired about six shots rapidly, striking the trunk of the car, testified Bulger.Then Bulger said he took the two firearms and put them back in the bedroom. He returned outside to the porch and heard more gunshots coming from the right.”Did you see the car?” Buxton asked.”Yes, a silver car. It was stopped right at the corner of Trinity Avenue. That’s where the muzzle flash was from the driver seat. I heard about six shots,” Bulger recalled.Bulger told the jury that it was the same car that went past him earlier.When Buxton asked Bulger if he could identify Josey in the court room today, he looked around, squinted, but could not, but then explained to Buxton that he was near-sighted.Buxton then provided Bulger with nine photos and asked him to pick out the man he saw. He picked out the photo of Cabrera out of the array.Bulger recalled how everyone headed toward the house when the shots were fired and that Pich fell to the floor in the hallway.He saw that Pich was shot in the chest and he along with two others put Pich into a car and drove him to Salem Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Bulger also acknowledged that he has charges pending against him arising out of the shooting incident and that he agreed to testify as a witness and that his level of cooperation would be reflected by the commonwealth as to the charges against him.The case continues Wednesday morning in Salem Superior Court with Judge David A. Lowy presiding over the trial.