Accused getaway driver in Saugus bank robbery ordered held on $1M

MALDEN – Prosecutors said two suspects involved in Friday?s bank robbery in Saugus and ensuing shootout with police in Malden attempted to carjack three people, including a woman and her 3-month-old baby during their getaway attempt.Assistant District Attorney John Verner said one of those suspects, Gabriel Megna, 48, of 236 Bennington St., #3, East Boston, served as the getaway driver.See Also: No bail for heist suspectPolice shot and killed one suspect, William Ekasala, 35 of East Boston after the robbery and chase, while a third suspect, Michael Ginnetti, 38, of Winthrop was arrested in Malden.Megna appeared in Malden District Court Monday and was ordered held on $1 million cash bail.Verner alleged that Megna, along with another suspect believed to be Ekasala, approached a car in the parking lot where he said Ekasala ordered a woman and her 3-month old baby out of the car.Court documents say (a suspect) pointed a gun at the woman from the passenger side while (another suspect) approached the car from the driver?s side.One suspect allegedly told the woman, “I don?t want to hurt you. We?re in a lot of trouble,” according to the document.Verner said the car was a manual transition and based on witness statements, the car jerked back and forth and Ekasala couldn?t drive the car.?At that point Mr. Ekasala fled the automobile and tried to carjack two other cars, and made his way on to Broadway where shots were fired,” said Verner.Police arrested Megna Friday night after police found him “cowering” under a stairwell at an apartment complex in Malden, according to Verner.Megna pleaded innocent Monday.Megna, who has a previous manslaughter conviction, according to Verner, is charged with armed carjacking, assault with a dangerous weapon and receiving a stolen motor vehicle in connection with the bank robbery.?These three known individuals, including this defendant, clearly had no intention of being apprehended,” said Verner during Monday?s court hearing in Malden District Court. “They had masks, they had body armor, they had firearms. They had a getaway car hidden in a parking lot. They made numerous attempts to carjack people and this particular defendant fled into a building and hid under a staircase for numerous hours.”Judge Antoinette Leoney set bail at $1 million based on “the risk of flight and the nature of the crime.”Megna is due back in court on May 11 for a probable cause hearing.A bailiff led Megna into the courtroom Monday morning in handcuffs and he immediately covered his face with both hands.In court, Verner laid out the chaotic scene that took place Friday, which he said started when two men wearing masks and carrying firearms robbed the Saugus Bank on Route 1 at around 5 p.m.Verner said the two men then got into a red Honda Civic, which he alleges was driven by Megna. The three fled down the Fellsway to Main Street, where Verner said another car, which he called a “switch car” was waiting in the parking lot of J. Pace and Sons.However, Verner said the quick response from police prevented the men from changing cars, so they continued onto Route 1 South to Route 99 and into Malden.Saugus Police chased the Civic, which made a right hand turn into a parking lot of a large condominium complex at 500 Broadway in Malden, said Verner.Police shot Ekasala, who was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Middlesex District Attorney Spokesperson Cara O?Brien declined to give any details on the shooting, saying the circumstances are still under investigation.A manhunt continued Friday night for a possible fourth suspect, however Verner said Monday it?s not clear whether there was an additional suspect and an investigation is ongoing.According to Verner, Megna was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison for manslaughter out of Suffolk Country followed by a five-and-half-year sentence for assault with a dangerous weapon and larceny out of Essex County.Megna?s father, Tony Megna, said after Monday?s