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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Billerica Police Chief Daniel Rosa have announced that on June 15, 2017 a Middlesex County Grand Jury indicted Sophan Keo, 29, of Beverly; Gabriel Arias, 24, of Lynn; and Steven Touch, 28, of Lynn, in connection with a 2012 Billerica home invasion. The defendants are each charged with murder in the first degree; home invasion; attempt to commit armed robbery; and two counts of conspiracy.
Sophan Keo, was arraigned on Friday in Middlesex Superior Court and was ordered held without bail. Gabriel Arias is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, June 20, in Middlesex Superior Court.
Police are actively seeking the third defendant, Steven Touch, an alleged leader of the Young Bloods, a violent street gang operating in and around Lynn, Massachusetts. The FBI is offering a monetary reward of up to $10,000 for information leading his arrest. Touch is considered extremely dangerous and members of the public should not attempt to approach him.
On July 7, 2012, at approximately 3:50 AM, four men burst into 795 Boston Rd. in Billerica, Massachusetts, forcing the door from its hinges. Some of the men wore masks, and at least three of them were armed with handguns.
They confronted two occupants of the house, who resisted them and tried to force the men back out the door of the home, one of the home invaders fatally shot one of the occupants, Quintin Koehler. The home invaders then fled without successfully carrying out their robbery plan.
Two additional men, Peter Bin and Jason Estabrook, were previously convicted of murder and related offenses in connection with the incident and a third, Adam Bradley, awaits trial in connection with the alleged murder and related offenses.
An arrest warrant was issued for Touch on January 10, 2017 by the Middlesex Superior Court after he failed to appear in court on the following charges: possession of a large capacity firearm; possession of firearm without a license; possession of a large capacity feeding device; carrying a loaded firearm; and defacing a serial number on a firearm. Subsequently, on May 22, 2017, another arrest warrant was issued for him by the U.S. District Court in Boston for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. Touch is considered armed and dangerous.
Touch is a 28-year-old Cambodian male who is a legal U.S. citizen, with black hair, brown eyes and a goatee. He is 5’7” in height and weighs approximately 220 pounds. He last resided at 108 Empire Street, Lynn, MA.
Touch has six tattoos; the word “Blood” on his right upper arm, the word “Mayhem” on his right neck, a baby footprint on his right neck, the letter “Y” with the word “Young” underneath his right inner forearm, the letter “B” with the word “Blood” underneath, on his left forearm, and the word “Touch” on his left hand.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should call the FBI Boston Division’s North Shore Gang Task Force at 1-857-386-2000. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.
