Crime
Prosecutors say the 29-year-old, who has a criminal history, attacked the victim in Mattapan.
A package delivered to the wrong doorstep allegedly triggered a brutal assault, leaving an elderly Boston resident injured and a 29-year-old neighbor facing assault and robbery charges, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.
Prosecutors charged Khalil Muhammad on Tuesday in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court with assault and battery on a person over 60 and unarmed robbery.
On Monday, Dec. 22, officers responded to an alleged assault in progress at 730 Cummins Highway in Mattapan, the DA said. A witness on scene told police that a man had assaulted her elderly neighbor and had stolen his phone.
Officers spoke to Muhammad, who said the alleged victim, a 77-year-old man, came to his apartment accusing him of stealing a package.
Officers found the victim badly beaten with his eyes swollen shut, a bleeding cut under one eye, and unable to answer questions. First responders transported the man to a hospital.
The DA’s office said the victim eventually told officers that Amazon had mistakenly delivered his package to Muhammad’s apartment. When he went to retrieve it, Muhammad punched him in the face and tore his Motorola phone from his hand, he said.
The victim told police he then fled up the stairs to his apartment, but Muhammad followed him and continued to beat him as he ascended.
“We take all assaults seriously, and the facts present here — an elderly victim suffering considerable injuries after being subjected to an extended attack — are particularly egregious,” Hayden said in a statement. “Escalating an incident of a mis-delivered package to such violence is intolerable.”
According to the DA, Muhammad has a criminal history of violent offenses in both Massachusetts and New York dating back to 2015.
Muhammad has an open case out of East Boston for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and class B possession of narcotics, the DA said.
He is also on probation in two other cases from the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court.
Judge Rebecca Figueroa revoked bail in the East Boston case and ordered Muhammad held on a detention detainer for both probation violations.
Muhammad is due back in court on Jan. 22 for a pre-trial hearing.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
