Press Release  Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to 2018 Murder

Haverhill, MA — A Haverhill man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder today in the death of Nike Colon, 20, in a drive-by shooting in 2018.

Eddy Almonte, 31, who was sentenced to life in state prison with the possibility of parole after  18 ½ years, also pleaded guilty to Assault by Discharging a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm without a Permit.  Judge William Barrett imposed the sentence after hearing an impact statement from Colon’s mother.

“This was a brazen daytime shooting, and it is, frankly, amazing that no one else was injured,” Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said.  “While we cannot restore what has been lost, I am hopeful that, with the resolution of this case, Nike’s loved ones can begin healing.”

On May 17, 2018, at approximately 5:00 pm, the defendant drove up alongside a motor vehicle parked on Shephard Street in Haverhill and fired 5 rounds, striking the victim, who was in the passenger’s seat.  The driver of the motor vehicle in which the victim was sitting, drove to City Hall at 4 Summer Street, where firefighters rendered medical aid to the victim. He was transported by ambulance to Merrimac Valley Hospital and then airlifted to Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant fled to Winchester, Virginia where he was arrested and returned to Massachusetts a few weeks later.

Special Assistant District Attorney Karen Hopwood prosecuted the case with assistance from Victim Advocate Jocelyn Pichardo.  Haverhill Detective Sean Scharneck and Trooper Josh Ulrich were the lead investigators.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Ed Masferrer.

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