Medford Man Arrested in Connection with Stoneham Murder

A Medford man and another from Malden were arrested Sunday on murder charges in connection with a double shooting in Stoneham that killed one man and injured one more, according to a release from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Jessie Williams, 24, of Medford, and Eugene Tate, 19, of Malden, were charged with murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm, according to the release.

Officers responded to 6 Micah’s Pond Way in Stoneham at about 12:19 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, for a report of gunshots. There, they found two men suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

One of these men, 27-year-old Joseph Puopolo, had gunshot wounds to the chest and wrist and was transported to Lahey Clinic in Burlington where he was pronounced dead. The other victim, a 28-year-old man, had a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he is in stable condition, according to authorities.

Authorities believe that the 28-year-old victim arranged to sell drugs to Williams and Tate and that the victim called Puopolo over because he was worried that he was going to get ripped off.

Williams and Tate allegedly entered the residence shortly after midnight, drew handguns, demanded drugs and money and then began shooting.

Medford police are assisting Massachusetts State Police, the district attorney’s office and Stoneham police with the investigation.

The defendants were charged based on witness statements and physical evidence, authorities said. Williams was arrested in East Boston, Tate turned himself in to Stoneham police, according to authorities.

Both men will be arraigned Monday in Woburn District Court.