Anthony Massetti. (Middlesex District Attorney’s Office)
LOWELL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The suspect in the killing of a Lowell man was arrested Monday afternoon, the Middlesex District Attorney's office said.
Anthony "Tony" Massetti, 53, is charged with murder. Authorities say he killed 51-year-old Eril Ligonde in the basement of Ligonde's Wilder Street home.
Ligonde's body was found by a neighbor around 5 p.m. Saturday. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said it appeared that Massetti attacked Ligonde on Friday before fleeing the home.
"Preliminarily, we believe the incident took place in the basement," Ryan told reporters. "It does appear to be blunt force trauma."
Exactly what transpired before the death was still unknown, though Ryan's office said Massetti and Ligonde did know one another and Massetti had been at Ligonde's home in the days prior to the fight.
Ryan's office said Massetti also took a handgun belonging to Ligonde before fleeing, which led authorities to warn the public to consider Massetti armed and dangerous.
Massetti, who is believed to be homeless, was found by a Chelmsford Police officer along the railroad tracks in that town around 1:30 p.m. Monday. The area is known to be frequented by the homeless community.
Massetti had Ligonde's gun in his possession when he was arrested.
He is set to be arraigned Tuesday in Lowell District Court.
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