Man charged with murder in January shooting

LYNN – Police arrested Jacquan McKenzie last night and charged him with the murder of Hery Aquino Jan. 12.
McKenzie, 18, of 14 Lakeview Ave. C6, was to be arraigned on the charge Thursday in Lynn District Court. McKenzie was previously charged with firearms violations in connection with the fatal shooting at Curwin Circle.
McKenzie was indicted Feb. 6 on charges of carrying a firearm without a license; carrying a loaded firearm without a license; and defacing the serial number of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to those charges Feb. 28 in Salem Superior Court.
Police responded to reports of a shooting at the Curwin Circle housing project at approximately 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 and found Aquino, 29, of Lynn, with at least one or two gunshot wounds to the head. Aquino died later that night at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Police said witnesses described a suspect fleeing the scene, and officers caught up with the suspect, later identified as McKenzie, after a chase through Holyoke Street backyards. Officers also recovered a gun McKenzie was alleged to have dropped during the chase.
The Daily Item staff is working on this story and will have more details as they become available.