BOSTON—Seven men who had just attended a friend's funeral and were wearing tuxedos when they beat a man to death outside a Boston nightclub have been charged with second-degree murder, prosecutors said Wednesday.
The men and five others also face assault and battery charges in the Aug. 20 fatal beating of 22-year-old Jose Alicea of the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.
All 12 are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
Witnesses identified the seven as those who fatally beat Jose Alicea, and parts of the fight were recorded on surveillance video, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said.
Several in the group of 12 men were wearing matching black tuxedos with red vests because they had been to the funeral of a friend killed in a motorcycle accident, prosecutors say. The 12 men, all from the Boston suburbs of Lynn, Revere and Malden, had gone to the club to celebrate their friend's life, and Alicea was there with friends.
Prosecutors said there was no problem inside the club, but as it was closing Alicea began talking to some of the men. People on both sides began shouting and cursing, and the encounter turned physical, prosecutors said.
The suspects then set upon Alicea and his friends, prosecutors say, kicking and beating them before fleeing.
Alicea was found lying on the sidewalk with severe head injuries. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he died two days later.
The suspects were found nearby in limousines, prosecutors said.
On Aug. 24, the suspects pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and battery.
All have pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for allegedly attacking three other people who were with Alicea.
Russell Sobelman, attorney for Michael Welch, 27, of Lynn -- one of the murder suspects -- said he was surprised his client was indicted because the surveillance video showed Welch was not involved in the fight.
Mark Meehan, attorney for Jason Benalfew, 27; Justin Cooke, 25; Johan Garcia, 28; and Ruskyn Garcia, 25, all of Lynn -- all facing second-degree murder and other charges -- did not immediately return calls for comment. The lawyer also represents Ramona Berroa, 28, of Lynn, who was not among those charged with murder.
Meehan has said his clients are innocent and were unfortunate to be "in the wrong vehicle at the wrong time."
Attorneys for Anthony Villalobos, 21, of Revere; Jonathan Fernandez, 23, and Ramon Gonzales Llavona, 38, both of Lynn; did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
It was not immediately clear whether Jose Castro, 22, Jorge Encarnacion, 26, both of Lynn, as well as Miguel Flaquer, 26, of Malden, had legal representation.
