For Immediate Release June 19, 2017
Contact: Press Office
781-897-8325
BILLERICA – 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. FBI Most Wanted Poster
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 Massachusetts State Police at 508-820-2121.
Billerica – On Saturday, July 8, 2017 at approximately 11pm, the Billerica Police received a 911 call from 7 Millpond Drive in North Billerica reporting a resident had been shot out in front of the home during an attempted armed robbery. Officer arrived within minutes and observed an adult male resident with a single gunshot wound to lower leg. The victim explained that he had just arrived at home from work and was confronted in his driveway by an unknown masked male demanding his money. The suspect was reportedly armed with a firearm during the confrontation. The victim reported that a struggle occurred between himself and the suspect when he was shot in the leg. The suspect reportedly fled on foot up Millpond Drive towards High Street where it is believed he entered a motor vehicle and fled the scene. Billerica K9 along with our NEMLEC K9 partners quickly arrived on scene and conducted an extensive search of the area confirming there were no longer any suspects in the area. The scene was processed with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Unit. The case is currently being investigated by the Billerica Police Detective Bureau. Anyone with information on this matter is urged to contact the Billerica Police at 978-671- 0900 or through our website www.Billericapolice.org where they can remain anonymous.
